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POEMS OF THE REVOLUTION. 



POEMS 



RELATING TO THE 



AMERICAN REVOLUTION 



BY 



PHILIP FRENEAU. 



V/JTH AN INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR AND NOTES. 



EVERT A. DUYCKINCK. 




NEW YORK: 
W. J. WIDDLETON, PUBLISHER 

M.DCCC.LXV 



Entered according to Aft of Congrcfs, in the year 1865, 

By W. J. WIDDLETON, 

In the Clerk's Oince of the Diftria Court of the United States for the Southera 
DiOrift o*" New york. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Introductory Memoir..-^ vii 



POEMS. 

The Rising Glory of America i 

To THE Americans on the Approach of the Hessians 20 

Emancipation from British Dependence 23 

General Gage's Soliloquy 25 

The Midnight Consultations: or a Trip to Boston 31 

America Independent 43 

On the New American Frigate Alliance 56^*^ 

On the Death of Captain Nicholas Diddle 60 

George the Third's Soliloquy 65 

A Dialogue between George and Fox 69 

The British Prison-Ship 78 

Captain Jones's Invitation 102 

On the Memorable Victory of the Bon Homme Richard 105 

An Ancient Prophecy iii 

An Address to the American Army 113 

A New York Tory, to his Friend in Philadelphia 117 

To Lord Cornwallis, at York, Virginia 120 

A London Dialogue, between my Lords Dunmore and Germaine 122 

Lord Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton 124 

On the Fall of General Earl Cornwallis 127 

To the Memory of the Brave Americans 134 — 

The Rcyal Adventurer 136 

Lord Dunmore's PetjTion to the Legislature of Virginia 139 

Epigram 14J 

Rivington's New Titular Types 144 

On Mr. Rivington's New Engraved King's Arms to his Royal 

Gazette 146 



VI CONTENTS. 

A Speech for the King of Great Britain 147 

PvIvington's Last Will and Testament 150 

The Political Balance j or, the Fates of Britain and America 

Compared 155 

Sir Harry's Invitation 166 

Dialogue at Hyde-Park Corner, (London.) 168 

On the Late Royal Sloop of War, General Monk 170 

Barney's Invitation 171 

"Song, on Captain Barney's Victory over the Ship General Monk... 174 

The Hessian Debarkation 178 

The Northern Soldier 179 

Truth An ticip ated 181 

On Sir Henry Clinton's Recall 1S6 

Sir Guy Carleton's Address to the Americans 190 

Modern Idolatry, or English (Quixotism 194 

On General Robertson's Proclamation 197 

Arnold's Departure 201 

A Picture of the Times; with Occasional Reflections 204 

Prince William Henry's Soliloquy 207 

Beelzebub's Remonstrance 210 

The Refugees' Petition to Sir Guy Carleton 212 

Sir Guy's Answer 213 

Rivington's Reflections 215 

Political Biography. — Gaine's Life 224 

On the Death of Colonel Laurens 241 

On the Departure of the British from Charleston 243 

On the British King's Speech 246 

Manhattan City 249 

A New York Tory's Epistle to one of his Friends in Pennsylvani.a 251 

Rivington's Confessions 256 

Washington's Arrival in Philadelphia 266 

The Triumphal Arch 271 

On the Death of a Republican Patriot and Statesman 275 

A Renegado Epistle to the Independent Americans 277 

Sale of Ramsay's History Prohibited 281 

The Pyramid of the Fifteen American States 283 



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PHILIP FRENEAU 



PHILIP FRENEAU, the popular poet of the days 
of the Revolution, who cheered the hearts of the 
citizens by his ready rhymes in behalf of the good caufe, 
and oppofition to its foes, while patriots were ftruggling 

1 for indepiadence, was born in Frankfort Street, in the City 
of New York, January 2, 1752. The family was of 

(French Huguenot defcent, his firft anceftors in America 

( having taken refuge in this country, with many other moft 
eftimable emigrants to our fhores, from the religious and 
civil perfecutions confequent upon that unhappy policy, fo 
injurious to the true wealth of France, the Revocation, by 

I Louis XIV., of the Edi6i: of Nantes. Thefe refugees 
came in confiderable numbers, a peaceful, intelligent, in- 
duftrious population, and their fimple virtues are to this day 
the pride of their defcendants. The Freneaus were of this 
wholefome flock ; they were good citizens of New York, 



VUl PHILIP FRENEAU. 

and their names are cherifhed in the records of the St. 
Efprit Church, the "Old French Church," the quaint 
place of worfliip in Pine Street, IHII remembered by our 
citizens, though the impulfe of trade has, fince its removal 
from that fpot, a fecond time driven the wandering houfe of 
worfhip to a new locality. 

Andrew Freneau, the grandfather of Philip Freneau, 
was a fhipping-merchant in the City of New York, of high 
repute among the inhabitants. Some interefting notices of 
his ftanding and liberal hofpitality are recorded in that in- 
terefting volume, the " Memoirs of the Huguenot Family 
of the Fontaines." John Fontaine, a traveller from France, 
vifited New York in 1716, on purpofes of bufinefs and ob- 
fervation. Immediately upon his arrival he called upon 
Andrew Freneau, at his home, where he met with a cordial 
reception, and was much with him during his ftay in the 
city, at the Coffee Houfe, at the French Club, and at 
Church.'^' Andrew Freneau refided, at the time of his 
death, in Pearl Street, near Hanover Square. He left two 
fons, born in New York, Pierre and Andrew, who purfued 
the bufmefs of wine-merchants in the city, and were engaged 
in the Bordeaux and Madeira trade. Pierre was the father 

* "Memoirs of a Huguenot Family," by Ann Maury, 296-310. 



PHILIP FRENEAU IX 

of Philip, the poet of the Revolution, and of Peter Freneau, 

who became hardly lefs diftinguifhed in South Carolina. 

Andrew Freneau, the uncle of Philip, married a daughter 

of Bifhop Provooft. Pierre, the father of the poet, bought 

an eftate of a thoufand acres at Mount Pleafant, New Jer- 

{cy^ a family inheritance which his fon afterwards occupied, 

> and where he wrote many of his poems. Both the father 

and grandfather of Philip Freneau are buried in a vault in 

I Trinity Churchyard, New York, by the fide of their family 

' relations. 

j Of the boyhood of Philip Freneau we know little, but 

I we may infer from the pofition of his family, and his fubfe- 

j quent attainments, that he was well inftrufted at the fchools 

j of the city, for we find him in 1767 a fludent at the Col- 

I lege of New Jerfey, at Princeton, where he graduated with 

' credit, after the ufual four years' courfe, in 1771. He 

began early the practice of verfification -, for, in his fopho- 

more year, at the age of feventeen, he compofed a rhymed 

poem of decided promife, entitled "The Poetical Hiftory of 

the Prophet Jonah," which appears at the head of the firfl 

general colle6lion of his ''Poems.'* Other compofitions, in 

various metres, on claflical and hiftorical themes, preferved 

in the fame volume, were written during his collegiate 

courfe. It was a creditable year for the inftitution when he 



X PHILIP FRENEAU. 

graduated ; for in his clafs were James Madifon, the future 
Prefident ; Hugh Henry Brackenridge, the celebrated Judge, 
and author of '' Modern Chivalry ;" befides others of note 
in the annals of America, among whom we may men- 
tion the father of the venerable Rev. Dr. Gardiner Spring, 
Samuel Spring, who became a chaplain of the Revolutionary 
army, was with Arnold at the attack of Quebec, in 1775, and 
in that difaftrous affair carried in his arms the wounded Aaron 
Burr from the field. The commencement exercifes at Naf- 
fau Hall that year, 1771, were of unufual intereft. It was 
in the Prefidency of that eminent patriot, John Witherfpoon, 
who, though born in Scotland, was proving himfelf, by his 
enlightened fagacity and devotion to freedom, an "Ameri- 
can of the Americans." The political independence of the 
country, though not yet formally proclaimed, was ripening, 
in Maffachufetts and elfewhere, to its great declaration and 
invincible refolve. The young patriots of Princeton, on a 
fpot deftined to become memorable in the ftruggle, were 
already animated by the kindling promife of the future. 
Brackenridge and Freneau had already developed a tafte for 
poetry, and they united, for their commencement exercife, 
in the compofition of a dialogue, A Poem on the R'lftng Glory 
of America^ which they pronounced together, founding, in 
animated blank verfe, the achievements of colonization in 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XI 

the paft and the vifionary grandeur of empire hereafter. 
This joint poem was pubhftied in Philadelphia in 1772, 
with the well-known motto from Seneca, the Roman tragic 
writer, afterwards adopted by Irving on the title-page of the 
'' Life of Columbus." The portion written by Freneau 
opens the prefent colle6tion — the prelude to his poems of 
the Revolution. 

The next information we have of Freneau is gathered 
from the dates of the poems which he contributed to the 
journals publifhed by Hugh Gaine and Anderfon, in New 
York, in 1775. They exhibit his intereil in the important 
military affairs of the year at Bofton, and will be found re- 
produced in the prefent volume. In a poem of this year, 

I " Mac Sniggen," a fatire on fome hoftile poetafter, he ex- 

I prefTes a defire to crofs the Atlantic : — 

{ *' Long have I fat on this difaft'rous fhore. 

And, fighing, fought to gain a paflage o'er 
To Europe's towns, where, as our travellers fay. 
Poets may flourifh, or perhaps they may;" — 

an inclination for foreign travel which was gratified, in 
1776, by a voyage to the Weft Indies, where he appears to 
have remained fome time, in a mercantile capacity, vifiting 
Jamaica and the Danifli ifland, Santa Cruz. Several of his 



XII PHILIP FRENEAU. 

moft ilriking poems, as the " Houfe of Night," and the 
" Beauties of Santa Cruz," were written on thefe vifits. 

In 1779, Freneau was engaged as a leading contributor 
to The United States Magaz'me : A Repofitory of H'[ftory^ 
Politics^ and Literature^ edited by his college friend and fel- 
low-patriot, Hugh Henry Brackenridge, and publifhed by 
Francis Bailey, in Philadelphia. It was ifTued monthly from 
January to December, when its difcontinuance was an- 
nounced " until an eftablifhed peace and a fixed value of the 
monev fiiall render it convenient or poffible to take it up 
again." The volume forms a moft interefting memorial, in 
its literary as well as hiftorical matter, of this important year 
of the war. Freneau wrote much for it, in profe and verfe, 
and with equal fpirit in both."^ Here at firft appeared the 
two poems written in the Weft Indies, already alluded to, 
and two of the poems, " King George III.'s Soliloquy," 
and the fpirited " Dialogue between his Britannic Majefty 
and Mr. Fox," reprinted in this volume. In comparing 

* It is ftated in Allibone's Diftionary, that Freneau edited this magazine. 
That his relation to the work was that of a contributor, appears from a note to a 
poetical imitation of the 137th Pfalm, in the September number. The poem is 
figned by Freneau, and dated at Monmouth, N. J. The note is to the author's 
name: — "A young gentleman to whom, in the courfe of this work, we arc 
greatly indebted," — an acknowledgment which would hardly be made in fuch 
terms if Freneau had been the editor. Befides, it is diflinftly ftated in the 
Biography of Brackenridge, by his fon, that the magazine was edited by the 
author of " Modern Chivalry." 



'PHILIP FRENEAU. XUl 

thefe with the poems as they appear in the later editions, we 
find numerous important additions and changes, fhowing the 
care and fkill which the poet beftowed upon his produc- 
tions. The " Houle of Night," in the Magazine, is com- 
prifed in feventy-three ftanzas ; in the fubfequent colie6lion 
of the author's poems it was extended to one hundred and 
' thirty-fix, and the fifty-two Pcanzas of the poem on '^ Santa 
Cruz," to one hundred and nine ; and various alterations 
j occur. The laft-mentioned poem in the Magazine is pre- 
j faced by an interefting profe defcription of the ifland. In it 
occurs this noticeable teftimony of the author on the fubje6l 
of negro flavery : — 

" The only difagreeable circumftance attending this 
ifland," fays he, " which it has in common with the reft, is 
the cruel and deteftable flavery of the negroes. ' If you 
have tears to fhed, prepare to fhed them now.' A defcrip- 
tion of the flavery they endure would be too irkfome and 
unpleafant to me ; and, to thofe who have not beheld it, 
would be incredible. Sufficient be it to fay, that no clafs 
of mankind in the known world undergo fo complete a fer- 
vitude as the common negroes in the Wefl Indies. It cafts 
a fhade over the native charms of the country ; it blots out 
the beauties of the eternal fpring which Providence has there 
ordained to reign ; and amidfl all the profufion of bounties 



XIV PHILIP FRENEAU. 

which nature has fcattered — the brightnefs of the heaven, 
the mildnefs of the air, and the luxuriancy of the vegetable 
kingdom — it leaves me melancholy and difconfolate, con- 
vinced that there is no pleafure in this world vv^ithout its 
(hare of pain. And thus the earth, which, were it not for 
the luft of pride and dominion, might be an earthly paradife, 
is, by the ambition and overbearing nature of mankind, ren- 
dered an eternal fcene of defolation, woe, and horror ; the 
weak goes to the wall, while the ftrong prevails ; and after 
our ambitious frenzy has turned the world upfide down, 
we are contented with a narrow fpot, and leave our follies 
and cruelties to be a6led over again, by every fucceeding 
generation." 

Freneau has alfo recorded his deteftation of the cruelties 
of Weft India flavery in verfe, in the poem, a terrific pic- 
ture of Have life, addrefled " To Sir Toby, a Sugar-Planter 
in the interior parts of Jamaica :" — 

" If there exills a Hell — the cafe is clear — 
Sir Toby's flaves enjoy that portion here." 

In another poem, " On the Emigration to America, and 
PeopHng the Weftern Country," publifhed in his volume 
of 1795, Freneau comes nearer home in the declaration of 
his opinions on this fubje(Sl, when he writes : — 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XV 

" O come the time and hafle the aay. 
When man ihall man no longer crufh 
When reafon fhall enforce her fway. 

Nor thefe fair regions raife our blufh. 
Where flill 4;he African complains. 
And mourns his yet unbroken chains." 

Ill after life, when the poet himfelf, under the mild (y{- 



' tern of Northern fervitude, became the owner of flaves in 
New Jerfey, he uniformly treated them with kindnefs, manu- 
mitted them in advance of the Emancipation A61 in the 
State, and fupported on the farm thofe of them who were 
not able to take care of themfelves. One of thefe, a vet- 
eran mammy, proud of having opened the door in her day 
to General Wafhington, and been addrefled by him in a 
word or two on that important occafion, long furvived the 
poet. 

In the year following the publication of the Magazine, 
Freneau, having embarked as paflenger in a merchant veflel 
from Philadelphia, on another voyage to the Weft Indies, 
was captured with the crew by a Britifh cruifer off the 
Capes of the Delaware, and carried with the prize to New 
York. There he was confined on his arrival in the Scor- 
pion^ one of the hulks lying in the harbour ufed as prifon- 
ftiips. The cruel treatment which he experienced on board, 



XVI PHILIP FRENEAU. 

with the aggravated horrors of foul air and other privations, 
fpeedily threw him into a fever, when he was transferred to 
the hofpital-fliip Hunter^ which proved fimply an exchange 
of one fpecies of fuffering for another more aggravated. 
How long Freneau was confined in this hideous prifon we 
are not informed, nor by what influences he gained his dif- 
charge. He carried with him, however, on his efcape, a 
burning memory of the feverities and indignities he had en- 
dured, which he gave expreflion to in one of the moft char- 
afteriftic of his poetical produ6lions, " 77;^ BritiJJ) Prifon- 
Ship^" which was pubhfhed by Francis Bailey, in Philadel- 
phia, in 1 77 1. This poem, originally divided into four can- 
tos, was fubfequently recaft by the author in the form in 
which it appears in the prefent volume, with the title, 
" Cantos from a Prifon-Ship." The pi6i:urefque incidents 
of the voyage, which is defcribed ; the animated a6tion of 
the capture ; the melancholy circumftances of the prifon- 
(hip contrafted with the happy fcenery of the fhore ; the 
ftern terrors of the hofpital, with the fatirical humour ex- 
pended upon the defcription of the Heffian Doftor, are all 
in Freneau's beft manner. 

Freneau now became a frequent contributor of patriotic 
odes and occafional poems, celebrating the incidents of 
the war, to 77?^ Freeman's 'Journal of Philadelphia. Here 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XVII 

many of the poems in the prefent volume, including the 
humorous verfes on Rivington and his " Royal Gazette," 
were firft publifhed. Literature, however, was not then 
a profitable occupation ; and Government, which had ex- 
haufted its refources in keeping an army in the field, had 
fcant opportunity of rewarding its champions. The poet, 
' looking to other means of fubfiftence, returned to his fea- 
faring and mercantile habits, and became known by his 
I voyages to the Weft Indies as Captain Freneau. He ftill, 
] however, kept up the ufe of the pen. In 1783, befides his 
' poetical contributions to the newfpapers, including feveral 
New Years' Addrefles, written for the carriers of the Phil- 
I adelphia journals, a fpecies of rhyming for which he had 
great facility, we find him publifhing in that city a tranfla- 
tion of the travels of M. Abbe Robin, the chaplain of Count 
^ Rochambeau, giving an account of the progrefs of the 
French army from Newport to Yorktown. In 1784, Fre- 
neau is at the Ifland of Jamaica, writing a poetical defcrip- 
tion of Port Royal. 

The firft collection of his poetical writings which he 
made, entitled " The Poems of Philip Freneau^ written chiefly 
during the late War^^ was publiflied by Francis Bailey, " at 
Yorick's Head in Market ftreet," Philadelphia, in 1786. 
It is prefaced by a brief " Advertifement," figned by the 



XVlll trHiLii- fKt.Nt.AV. 

publiflier, in which he ftates that the pieces now colledted 
had been left in his hands by the author more than a year 
previoufly, with permiffion to pubhfh them whenever he 
thought proper. "A confiderable number of the perform- 
ances," he adds, " as many will recolleft, have appeared at 
different times in newfpapers (particularly The Freeman's 
Journal)^ and other periodical publications in the different 
States of America, during the late war, and fince ; and, 
from the avidity and pleafure with which they generally 
appear to have been read by perfons of the beft tafte, the 
Printer now the more readily gives them to the world in 
their prefent form (without troubling the reader with any | 
affe£ted apologies for their fuppofed or real imperfe6lions), 
in hopes they will afford a high degree of fatisfa6i:ion to the 
lovers of poetical wit and elegance of expreilion.'* 

The fuccefs of this volume led to the publication, by 
Mr. Bailey, of another collection of Freneau's v/ritings in 
1788. It is entitled, '-''The Mifcellaneous Works of Mr. 
Philip Freneau.^ containing his EJfays and Additional Poems.'' 
A number of the poems were printed from manufcript. 
" Some i&w of the pieces," the publiflier announced, " have 
heretofore appeared in American newfpapers ; but, through 
a fatality not unufually attending publications of that kind, 
are now, perhaps, forgotten ; and, at any time, may poffi- 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XIX 



bly never have been feen, or attended to, but by very few." 
The volume, as not uncommon even with works of very 
limited extent, in that early period of the nation, was pub- 
lifhed by fubfcription. The Honorable David Rittenhoufe, 
Mathew Carey, and John Parke, A. M., of Horatian ce- 
lebrity, were among the fubfcribers in Philadelphia ; New 
, York furnifhed, among others of note, De Witt Clinton, 
Edward Livingfton, Colonel Marinus Willet, and John 
' Pintard, who took two copies ; Maryland fent fome thirty ; 
; but the largeft number was contributed by South Carolina, 
' that State fupplying two hundred and fifty, or more than half 
] the entire lift. Captain Freneau was well known and highly 
I appreciated at Charlefton, which he frequently vifited in the 
j courfe of his mercantile adventures to the Weft Indies, and 
I where his younger brother Peter, who fubfequently edited a 
political journal in that city, and was in intimate correfpon- 
dence with Prefident Jefferfon, was already eftabliftied as 
an influential citizen. 

The "E%s"and "Tales," in this colledion, difplay 
the author's tafte and ingenuity. They cover a w4de range 
of fubje6ls, moral, humorous, and fatirical ; and, like the 
kindred productions of Franklin and Francis Hopkinfon, 
thefe fketches of manners and fociety are remarkably neat 
in execution. The formal parts of literature were, in the 



XX PHILIP FRENEAU. 

days of our author, more attended to than at prefent, at leaft 
in thefe occafional compofitions. The writer who appeared 
in print before the pubhc, in that age of ceremonial coftume, 
felt it incumbent upon himfelf to pay fome regard to the 
drefs in which he clothed his thoughts. Freneau had, be- 
fide, a true author's inftind in regard to the fmall proprieties 
of expreflion. He would polifh and refine at every oppor- 
tunity, as the ftudied improvement of particular paflages in 
the fucceflive editions of his writings bears witnefs. The 
" Tra6ls and Eflays," by Mr. Robert Slender, the name 
under which Freneau frequently wrote, are, in fa6t, quite 
pleafant reading at this day ; they are enlivened with various 
happy inventions, and refledt, in a genial vein of humour, the 
habits and opinions of our, forefathers at a period which will 
always be peculiarly interefting to the genuine American. 

After feveral years fpent in voyaging, we find Freneau 
again in active literary employment in 1791, as editor of the 
Daily Advert'ifer^ 3. journal printed in New York, the fuper- 
intendence of which he prefently exchanged for that of the 
National Gazette at Philadelphia, the firft number of which 
appeared under his dire6lion in 06lober of the year juft 
mentioned. He was employed at the fame time by JefFer- 
fon, the Secretary of State, — the feat of government being 
now removed to Philadelphia, — as tranflating clerk in the 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XXI 

State Department, with a falary of two hundred and fifty 
dollars a year. It was a time of fierce political excitement, 
when the newly framed Conftitution, not yet fully eftab- 
lifhed in its working, was expofed to the fierce criticifm of 
Its adverfaries ; while popular opinion was greatly excited by 
the rifing tumult of ideas generated in the French Revolu- 
tion. In this ftrife of parties Freneau was an a6live partifan 
of the new French ideas, was a fupporter of Genet, the 
minifter who fought to entangle the country in the great 
European ftruggle, and, as might be expected, was an un- 
fparing aflailant of the policy of Wafhington, whofe charac- 
ter he had heretofore eulogized. Wafhington was annoyed, 
"^ I and Hamilton attacked JefFerfon for his official fupport of 
the troublefome editor. Jefferfon replied that he had be- 
friended Freneau, as a man of genius ; but that he had 
never written for his paper. It is unqueftionably true, how- 
ever, that Freneau's poUtical writings, at this time, had Jef- 
ferfon's warmeft fympathy. 

The Gazette came to an end with its fecond volume 
and lecond year, in 1793, after which Freneau became, as 
ne nad ueen before, a refident of New Jerfey. He had ftill, 
however, an inclination to editorial life, and we accordingly 
find him, in the fpring of 1795, pubHftiing at Mount Plea- 
fant, near Middletown Point, a new journal, entitled The 



XXll PHILIP FRENEAU. 

Jerfey Chronicle. A copy of this journal is preferved in the 
Hbrary of the New York Hiftorical Society. The firft 
number was dated May 2 ; it was iflued weekly and con- 
tinued for a year, when it was arrefted by that frequent 
malady of fuch undertakings, want of fupport. This Chron- 
icle is quite a curious affair. It was printed by the author 
himfelf, who had multered a medlev of types for the purpofe. 
The firft number was of the humble dimenfions of eight 
fmall quarto pages, of feven inches by eight. But it bore a 
brave motto, from the editor's favourite Horace : — 

** Inter fylvas Academi quasrere verum," 

and loftily propofed to review the foreign and domeftic poli- 
tics of the times, and " mark the general character of the 
age and country." The fpirited little journal was prefently 
fomewhat enlarged, but typographically, at leaft, it always 
appeared of a fomewhat fickly conftitution. 

The office types, however, were well employed in print- 
ing, this year, 1795, a new and comprehenfive edition of 
the author's poems, in an o6lavo volume of four hundred 
and fifty-fix pages, of the title-page of which we prefent a 
clofe imitation : — 



P O E M S 

Written between the Years 1768 & 1794, 

B Y 

PHILIP FRENEAU, 

O F 

NEW JERSEY. 

A New Edition, Revised and Corrected by tiie 

Author; Including a confiderable number of 

Pieces never before published. 

•«• -sf -:f 

% « ':f -^ 

•?«■ -Jf -K- -Jf -Jf 

Audax hide cohort jicllh e pluribus unum 
Ardua pyramidos tollit ad ajlra caput. 



M N M U T H 
[ N. J. ] 

PRINTED 

At the Prefs of the Author, at Mount-Pleasant, near 

MIDDLETOWN-POINT : M.DCC.XCV: and, of 

— American Independence — 

XIX. 



XXIV PHILIP FRENEAU. 

The explanation of the ftars in the title will be found In 
the concluding poem of the prefent volume, entitled " The 
Pyramid of the Fifteen American States." In this collec- 
tion Freneau revived his poem on the Prifon-Ship, and re- 
printed at length his humorous animadverfions on RIvIngton 
and Game ; all of which, with the other Revolutionary 
poems, have been transferred to the prefent volume. 

One more newfpaper venture concludes the lift of Fre- 
neau's undertakings of this defcrlption. In 1797 he edited, 
at New York, a mifcellaneous periodical, entitled The T'nne- 
Piece and Literary Companion. It was printed in quarto 
form, appeared three times a week ; and, befides his edi- 
torftilp, Freneau was aflbciated with a partner in its printing 
and publication. As ufual, his part was well done, the 
journal being well arranged, judiciouily filled with a variety 
of matter, fpirlted and entertaining ; In facft, what its title 
promifed, an agreeable companion to an intelligent reader. 
This, at leaft, was its character while In charge of Freneau. 
He appears to have left it during the year, after which it 
languiflied and died. 

In 1799, Freneau publifhed at Philadelphia, "printed 
for the author," a thin octavo volume, entitled, " Let- 
ters on Various Interejiing and Important Suhje5h ; many of 
which have appeared in the Aurora. Corrcuted and much en- 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XXV 

larged. By Robert Slender^ O, S. M,^' with the motto 
from Pope : — 

" Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow ; 
The reft is all but leather or prunella." 

Freneau, of whofe occupations we have now no particu- 
lar account, appears to have refided in New Jerfey, doubt- 
lefs often vifiting New York, and certainly keeping alive his 
poetical faculty, by his habit of penning occafional verfes on 
topics fuggefted by the day. In 1809 he publiflied a new 
collection, the fourth, of his writings, which he entitled, 
" Poems Written and Puhlijhed during the American Revolu- 
tionary War^ and now Republijhed from the Original Manu- 
\ fcripts ; interfperfed with Tranjlations from the Ancients^ and 
I other pieces not heretofore in print. ''^ The title-page alfo bore 
\ the motto — 

** Juftly to record the deeds of fame. 



A mufe from heaven fhould touch the foul with flame ; 
Some powerful fpirit, in fuperior lays. 
Should tell the conflids of the ftormy days." 

I The tranflations "from the ancients," are the third Elegy 

' of the firft book of Ovid's '^ Triftia," and the pafTage of 

Lucretius, in the fixth book of his poem, in which he dc- 

fcribes the great plague at Athens. The fele6lion fhows 



XXVI PHILIP FRENEAU. 

that Freneau had not altogether loft the early Inftrudion in 
the claflics which he had received at Naffau Hall. The 
collection in which thefe poems appeared was publiflied in 
two duodecimo volumes, at Philadelphia, " from the prefs 
of Lydia R. Bailey." 

Freneau lived to commemorate the incidents of the fec- 
ond war with Great Britain, in 1812. He wrote various 
poems celebrating the naval aCtions of Hull, Macdonough, 
Porter, and others, which ftirred the foul of the old Revolu- 
tionary warrior. His traditionary hatred of England fur- 
vives in thefe and other compofitions which he publifhed in 
New York, in 18 15, in two fmall volumes, from the prefs I 
of David Longworth, entitled, " A Colle£iion of Poe?ns on 
American Affairs and a Variety of other Subje^s^ written be- 
tween the years 1797 and the prefent time.'''' 

** Then England come ! — a fenfe of wrong requires 
To meet with thirteen ftars your thoufand fires : 
Through thefe ftern times the conflid to maintain. 
Or drown them, with your commerce, in the main." 

Thefe volumes received a genial notice in the Anale£iic 
Maga-Line^ from the pen of Mr. Gulian C. Verplanck. 
Deprecating the feverity of criticifm towards poems of an 
occafional chara6ler, the writer remarks : " He depiCls land 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XXVll 

battles and naval fights with much animation and gay col- 
ouring ; and being himfelf a fon of old Neptune, he is never 
at a lofs for appropriate circumftance and expreffive di6tion, 
vi^hen the fcene lies at sea. * * -^ His martial and po- 
litical ballads are free from bombaft and afFecSlation, and 
often have an arch fimplicity in their manner that renders 
them very poignant and llriking. If the ballads and fongs 
of Dibdin have cheered the fpirits and incited the valour of 
the Britifh tars, the {trains of Freneau, in like manner, are 

J calculated to impart patriotic impulfes to the hearts of his 
countrymen, and their effect in this way fliould be taken as 

lithe teft of their merit, without entering into a very nice ex- 
amination of the rhyme or the reafon. For our own part, 

I we have no inclination to dwell on his defe6ls ; we had 

much rather — 

\ 

( * With full applaufe, in honour to his age, 

Difmifs the veteran poet from the ftage ; 

Crown his laft exit with diftinguifhed praife, 

And kindly hide his baldnefs with the bays.'"* 

After witneffing and chronicling in his verfe the conflicts 
of two wars, Freneau had yet many years of life before him. 
They were moftly pafled in rural retirement, at the home 

* "Analeflic Magazine," v. 518. 



XXVUl PHILIP FRENEAU. 

where he had been long fettled, near Monmouth, New Jer- 
fey. He occafionally vifited New York, keeping up his 
acquaintance with the Democratic leaders, with whom he 
had been aflbciated in the political ftruggles of the paft, and 
honoured by the friends of literature in the city, who never 
failed to appreciate the merits of the veteran finger of the 
Revolution. His appearance and converfation at this time 
have been graphically defcribed by the late Dr. John W. 
Francis, in whom the genius and hiftory of Freneau exr- 
cited the warmeft intereft. " I had," fays he, " when very 
young, read the poetry of Freneau, and as we inftin6lively 
become attached to the writers who firfl: captivate our 
imaginations, it was with much zeft that I formed a per- 
fonal acquaintance with the Revolutionary bard. He was 
at that time about feventy-fix years old, when he firft intro- 
duced himfelf to me in my library. I gave him an earneft 
welcome. He was fomewhat below the ordinary height ; 
in perfon thin, yet mufcular j with a firm ftep, though a little 
inclined to ftoop ; his countenance wore traces of care, yet 
lightened with intelligence as he fpoke ; he was mild in 
enunciation, neither rapid nor flow, but clear, diftincft, and 
emphatic. His forehead was rather beyond the medium 
elevation ; his eyes a dark gray, occupying a focket deeper 
than common j his hair muft have once been beautiful ; it 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XXIX 

was now thinned and of an Iron gray. He was free of all 
ambitious difplays ; his habitual expreffion was penfivc. 
His drefs might have paffed for that of a farmer. New 
York, the city of his birth, was his moft interefting theme ; 

j his collegiate career with Madifon, next. His ftory of 
many of his occafional poems was quite romantic. As he 

; had at command types and a printing-prefs, when an inci- 
dent of moment in the Revolution occurred, he would retire 
for compofition, or find flielter under the fhade of fome tree, 
indite his lyrics, repair to the prefs, fet up his types, and 
iffue his produ6i:ions. There was no difficulty in verfifica- 
tion with him. I told him what I had heard Jeffrey, the 
Scotch Reviewer, fay of his writings, that the time would 

I arrive when his poetry, like that of Hudibras, would com- 

( mand a commentator like Grey. 

\ " It is remarkable how tenacioufly Freneau preferved 
the acquifitions of his early claffical ftudies, notwithftanding 
he had for many years, in the after portion of his life, been 

j occupied in purfuits fo entirely alien to books. There is no 

I portrait of the patriot Freneau ; he always firmly declined 
the painter's art, and would brook no 'counterfeit prefent- 

I ment.'"* 

* A /ketch contributed by Dr. Francis to the ** Cyclopzedia of American 
Literature," i. 333, 334. 



XXX PHILIP FRENEAU. 

John Pintard, in a biographical notice of Freneau, alfo 
celebrates his mental accomplifhments : " He was," fays 
he, " a man of great reading and extenfive acquirements ; 
few were more thoroughly verfed in claffical literature, 
and fewer ftill, who knew as much about the early hif- 
tory of our country, the organization of the government, 
and the rife and progrefs of parties."'^ 

The averfion of the poet to fitting for his portrait, no- 
ticed by Dr. Francis, was one of his peculiarities, for which 
it is not eafy to fuggeft a fufficient explanation. As an au- 
thor he was careful of the prefervation of his fame. Cer- 
tainly the caufe was not to be found in any unfavourable 
impreilion his likenefs might create, for he was, as accurately 
defcribed by Dr. Francis, of an interefting appearance in age. 
In youth he was regarded as handfome. His brother Peter 
was renowned, in South Carolina, for his perfonal beauty. 
But, whatever the motive, Freneau refolutely declined to 
have his portrait painted. He was once waited upon by the 
artift, Rembrandt Peale, with a requeft for this purpofe, by 
a body of gentlemen in Philadelphia ; but he was inexorable . 
on the fubje6l. On another occafion, the elder Jarvis, 
with a view of fecuring his hkenefs, was fmuggled into u 

* New York Mirror ^ Jan. 12, 1833. 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XXXI 

corner of the room at a dinner-party, at Dr. Hofack's, to 

which the poet had been invited ; but the latter detected 

the defign and arrefted its accompHfliment. At this late 

day, the negleft has been, in a meafure, repaired. The 

portrait prefixed to this volume has been fketched by an 

artift, at the fuggeftion and dictates of feveral members of 

Jthe poet's family, who retain the moit vivid recollection of 

(his perfonal appearance. It is pronounced by them, a fair 

Teprefentation of the man in the maturity of his phyfical 

Jpowers, previous to the inroads of old age. His daughter, 

J Mrs. Leadbeater, and his grandfon and adopted fon, Mr. 

jPhilip L. Freneau, of this city, to whom we are indebted, 

jin this Memoir, for feveral interefting perfonal particulars, 

! pronounce it a fatisfacStory likeness. Though wanting the 

lauthenticity which might have been conferred by a Trum- 

jbull or Stuart, the fketch is of undoubted intereft as an 

j embodiment of the recollections and impreffions of his 

family, who are not Hkely to be deceived in a matter fo 

clofely touching the affeCtlons. It is, at any rate, all that 

now can be refcued from the paft. The attempt, under the 

I circumftances, was well worthy of being made, and muft 

be regarded, with the evidence before us, as reafonably fuc- 

cefsful. 

Freneau furvived nearly to the completion of his eightieth 



XXXIl PHILIP FRENEAU. 

year. Fie died December i8, 1832.''' The Momnouih (N. 
J.) Inquirer thus announced his death : — 

" Mr. Freneau was in the village, and ftarted, towards 
evening, to go home, about two miles. In attempting to 
go acrofs he appears to have got loft and mired in a bog 
meadow, where his lifelels corpfe was difcovered yefter- 
day morning. Captain Freneau was a ftanch Whig in the 
time of the Revolution, a good foldier, and a warm patriot. 
The productions of his pen animated his countrym.en in • | 
the darkeft days of '76, and the effufions of his mufe 



* Philip Freneau left a family of four daughters, all of whom, at this prefent 
time (1865), are living. The mother of Governor Seymour, of New York 
(Mary, the daughter of General Jonathan Forman), was a niece of Mrs. Philip 
Freneau, the wife of the poet. The Freneaus, through the fecond marriage of 
the poet's mother, are connefted with the Kearney family, of New Jerfey. Philip 
Freneau married early in life, at about the age of thirty, Mifs Eleanor Forman, 
daughter of Samuel Forman, a wealthy citizen of New Jerfey. General Jona- 
than Forman and Denife Forman, who were much engaged in military affairs in 
the State during the Revolution, were her brothers. David Forman, alfo in 
military life, was her coufin. This lady, who ihared her hulband's talent for 
poetry, correfponding with him, for feveral years before their marriage, in verfe, 
was of marked character and intelligence. She was devotedly attached to the 
Epifcopal Church, which the family attended, having left the French Church in 
the lifetime of the poet's father. Mrs. Freneau furvived her hulband many 
years, retaining, in her latter days, much of the perfonal adlivity of her youth, 
and a fund in converfation of the m.oft interefting memories of the days of the 
Revolution. The remains of Mrs. Freneau repofe, with thofe of her hufband, in 
the family burial-ground at Mount Pleafant, New Jerfey. A monument to the 
ithi 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XXxiii 

cheered the defponding foldier as he fought the battles of 
freedom." 

The eulogy of the Monmouth journal will remain Fre- 
neau's higheft diftindion. He was the popular poet of the 
Revolution. We have made this fervice the ground of 
fele^lion of the poems which compofe the prefent volume. 

I For the firft time, all that he himfelf thought worthy of re- 
publication of this nature, is here brought together in a fm- 
gle volume. The poems have been carefully gathered from 
the feveral editions, and the author's lateft revifed text has 
in all cafes been followed. Where changes of any intereft 

1 were made by him, the variations have been pointed out in a 
note. 

It is not to be forgotten, however, that Freneau had 

i other claims to attention as a poet, than his literary aflbcia- 
tion with the events of the Revolution. He was eflentially 
of a poetic mood, and had many traits of rare excellence in 
the divine art. His fympathies were with nature and his 
fellow-men. His mind was warmed into admiration at the 
beauties of landfcape ; his conceptions were imaginative ; 
vifionary fcenes fwarmed before his imagination ; and the 
fame fufceptibility of mind which led him to inveft with in- 
tereft the fading fortunes of the Indian, and Nature's prod- 
igality in the luxurious fcenery of the tropics, made him 



XXXIV PHILIP FRENEAU. 

keenly appreciative of the humble ways and manners of his 
race. The pra6i:ical Captain Freneau combined humour 
with fancy, and his Mufe, laying afide what Milton termed 
'' her fmging robes," could wear with eafe the garments of 
every-day life. The common, once familiar incidents and 
manners of his time, will be found pleafantly refle6led in 
many a quaint pifture in his poems. 

" The poems of Philip Freneau," if we may be allowed 
here to repeat our eftimate of his powers, from a fketch writ- 
ten fome years ago, " reprefent his times, the war of wit and 
verfe no lefs than of fword and ftratagem of the Revolution ; 
and he fuperadds to this material a humorous, homely fim- 
plicity peculiarly his own, in which he paints the life of vil- 
lage ruftics, with their local manners frefh about them ; of 
days when tavern delights were to be freely fpoken of, be 
fore temperance focieties and Maine laws were thought ol , 
when men went to prifon at the fummons of inexorable 
creditors, and when Conne6ticut deacons rufhed out of 
meeting to arreft and waylay the palling Sunday traveller. 
When thefe humours of the day were exhaufted, and the im- 
pulfes of patriotifm were gratified in fong ; when he had paid 
his refpe6ls to RIvIngton and Hugh Galne, he folaced hlm- 
felf with remoter themes : In the verfion of an ode of Hor- 
ace, a vifionary meditation on the antiquities of America, or 



PHILIP FPvENEAU. XXXV 

a fentimental efrufion on the loves of Sappho. Thefe fhow 
the fine ta6l and deHcate handling of Freneau, vi^ho deferves 
much more confideration in this refpeft from critics than he 
has received. A writer from whom the faftidious Camp- 
bell, in his bed day, thought it worth while to borrow an 
entire line, is worth looking into. It is from Freneau's 
Indian Burying-Ground^ the laft image of that fine vifionary 
flanza : — 

* By midnight moons, o'er moiftening dews. 

In veftments for the chafe array'd. 
The hunter ftill the deer purfues. 

The hunter and the deer — a fhade.' 

Campbell has given the line a rich fetting in the ^ lovelorn 
fantafy' of 0' Conor's Child:— 

* Bright as the bow that fpans the ftorm. 

In Erin's yellow veliure clad, 
A fon of light — a lovely form. 

He comes and makes her glad ; 
Now on the grafs-green turf he fits. 

His taffell'd horn befide him laid ; 
Now o'er the hills in chafe he flits. 

The hunter and the deer ajhade.* 

^' There is alfo a line of Sir Walter Scott which has its 



XXXVl PHILIP FRENEAU. 

prototype in Freneau. In the introdu6lion to the third 
canto of Marm'ion^ in the apoftrophe to the Duke of Brunf- 
wick, we read — 

* Lamented chief! — not thine the power 
To fave in that prefumptuous hour. 
When Pruflia hurried to the field. 
And fnatch'd the fpear but left the fhield.' 

'' In Freneau's poem on the heroes of Eutaw, we have 
this ftanza : — 

'They faw their injur'd country's woe; 
The flaming town, the wafted field ; 
Then rufli'd to meet the infulting foe ; 
They took the fpear — but left the fhield.' 

" An anecdote which the late Henry Brevoort was ac- 
cuftomed to relate of his vifit to Scott, affords affurance that 
the poet was really indebted to Freneau, and that he would 
not, on a proper occafion, have hefitated to acknowledge 
the obligation. Mr. Brevoort was afked by Scott refpe6ting 
the authorfhip of certain verfes on the battle of Eutaw, 
which he had feen in a magazine, and had by heart, and 
v/hich he knew were American. He was told that they 
were by Freneau, when he remarked, ' The poem is as fine 
a thing as there is of the kind in the language.' Scott alfo 
praifed one of the Indian poems. 



PHILIP FRENEAU. XXXVll 

''We might add to thefe initances, that in 1790, Fre- 

neau, in his poetical correfpondence between Nanny, the 

Philadelphia Houfe-keepei, and Nabby, her friend in New 

York, upon the fubje6i: of the removal of Congrefs to the 

former city, hit upon fome of the peculiar pleafantry of 

Moore's Epiftles inverfe, of the prefent century. 

I " Freneau furprifes us often by his neatnefs of execution 

and fkill in verfification. He handles a triple-rhymed ftanza 

, in the octofyllabic meafurc particularly well. Kis apprecia- 

j 

I tion of nature is tender and fympathetic, — one of the pure 

fprings which fed the more boifterous current of his humour 

I when he came out among men, to deal with quackery, pre- 

I tence, and injuftice. But what is, perhaps, rnoft worthy of 

1 notice in Freneau is his originality, the inftinft with which 

\ his genius marked out a path for itfelf, in thofe days when 

,' moft writers were languidly leaning upon the old foreign 

fchool of Pope and Darwin. He was not afraid of home 

things and incidents. Dealing with fa6ls and realities, and 

the life around him, wherever he was, his v/ritings have ftill 

an intereft where the vague expreffions of other poets are 

forgotten. '^ ^^ ^ It is not to be denied, however, that 

Freneau was foinetimes carelefs. He thought and wrote 

with improvidence. His jefts are fometimes mifdireAed ; 

and his verfes are unequal in execution. Yet it is not too 



XXXVlll PHILIP FRENEAU. 

much to predI6l, that, through the genuine nature of fome 
of his produ6lions, and the hiftoric incidents of others, all 
that he wrote will yet be called for, and find favour in nu- 
merous editions."^ 

This predi6lion was ventured ten years ago. It is now 
in a meafure fulfilled, in the demand for the prefent im- 
print — the only publication in America of any colleftion of 
Freneau's writings fince the year 1815, and the firft of his 
Revolutionary Poems fince 1809. 

* "Cyclopaedia of American Literature," i. 327-348. 



THE 

RISING GLORY OF AMERICA 

Bang part of a Dialogue, pronounced on a public occafion.^ 



Venient annis 



' Saecula feris, quibus oceanus 

Vincula reruin laxet, et ingens 

Pateat tellus, Typhifque novos 
' Detegat orbes ; nee fit terris 

I Ultima Thule. 

] Seneca, Med, Act, iii. v, 375. 

i 

I ARGUMENT. 

[The fubjedl propofed^ The difcovery of America by Columbus A philo- 

* Ibphical enquiry into the origin of the favages of America The firft planters 

' from Europe Caufes of their migration to America The difficulties 

1 they encountered from the jealoufy of the natives Agriculture defcanted 

I on Commerce and navigation Science Future profpedls of Britifh 

I ufurpation, tyranny, and devaftation on this fide the Atlantic The more 

comfortable one of Independence, Liberty, and Peace Conclufion. 

\ 

Acajio. 
^^TOW (hall the adventurous Mufe attempt a theme 
More new, more noble, and more flulh of fame 
Than all that went before — 
I Now through the veil of ancient days renew 

I * N. B. This Poem is a little altered from the original (publiflied in Philadel 
f.hia, in 1772), fuch parts being only inferted here as were written by the author of 

his Volume, A few more modern lines, towards the conclufion, are incorporated 
iwith the reil:, being a fuppofed prophetical anticipation of fubfequent events. 

[The circumftances under which the Poem was compofed have been noticed 

n the Prefatory Memoir of the author.'' 

/ 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

The period fam'd when firft Columbus touch'd 

Thefe fhores fo long unknown — through various toils, 

Famine, and death, the hero forc'd his way. 

Thro' oceans pregnant with perpetual ftorms. 

And climates hoftile to advent'rous man. 

But why, to prompt your tears, fliould we refume 

The tale of Cortex^ furious chief, ordain'd 

With Indian blood to dye the fands, and choak, 

Fam'd Mexico^ thy ftreams with dead ? or why 

Once more revive the tale fo oft rehears'd 

Of Atahilipa^ by thirft of gold, 

(All conquering motive in the human breaft) 

Depriv'd of Hfe, which not Peru's rich ore 

Nor Mexicans vaft mines could then redeem ? 

Better thefe northern realms demand our fong, 

Defign'd by nature for the rural reign. 

For agriculture's toil. — No blood we fhed 

For metals buried in a rocky wafte. 

Curs'd be that ore, which brutal makes our race, 
And prompts mankind to fhed a brother's blood ! 

Eugento, 
But whence arofe 



That vagrant race who love the ftiady vale. 

And choofe the foreft for their dark abode ? — 

For long has this perplext the fages' Ikill 

To inveftigate. — Tradition lends no aid 

To unveil this fecret to the mortal eye. 

When firft thefe various nations, north and fouth, 



THE RISING GLOP-Y OF AMERICA. 

Poffeft thefe fhores, or from what countries came. — 

Whether they fprang from fome primaeval head 

In their own lands, like Adam in the eaft, — 

Yet this the facred oracles deny, 

And reafon, too, reclaims againft the thought : / 

For when the general deluge drown'd the world / 

Where could their tribes have found fecurity, / 

Where find their fate, but in the ghaftly deep f — 

Unlefs, as others dream, fome chofen few 

High on the Andes 'fcap'd the general death, 

High on the Andes, wrapt in endlefs fnow, 

Where winter in his wildeft fury reigns. 

And fubtile aether fcarce our life maintains. 

But here philofophers oppofe the fcheme : 

This earth, fay they, nor hills nor mountains knew 

Ere yet the univerfal flood prevail'd ; 

But when the mighty waters rofe aloft, 

Rous'd by the winds, they fhook their folid bafe, 

And, in convulfions, tore the delug'd world, 

'Till by the winds afluag'd, again they fell. 

And all their ragged bed expos'd to view. 

Perhaps, far wandering toward the northern pole, 
The ftreights of Zembla, and the frozen zone. 
And where the eaftern Greenland almoft joins 
America's north point, the hardy tribes 
Of banifh'd Jews, Siberians, Tartars wild 
Came over icy mountains, or on floats 
Firft reach'd thefe coafts, hid from the world befide.- 
And yet another are;ument more ftrange, 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

Referv'd for men of deeper thought, and late, 

Prefents itfelf to view : — In Peleg's'^ days^ 

(So fays the Hebrew feer's unerring pen) 

This mighty mafs of earth, this folid globe 

IVas cleft in twain, — " divided'^ eaft and weft, 

While ftraight between, the deep Atlantic roll'd. — 

And traces indifputable remain 

Of this primaeval land, now funk and loft. — 

The iflands rifing in our eaftern main 

Are but fmall fragments of this continent, 

Whofe two extremities were Newfoundland 

And St. Helena. — One far in the north. 

Where ftiivering feamen view with ftrange surprize 

The guiding pole-ftar glittering o'er their heads ; 

The other near the fouthern tropic rears 

Its head above the waves — Bermuda's ifles. 

Cape Verd, Canary, Britain, and the Azores, 

With fam'd Hibernia, are but broken parts 

Of fome prodigious wafte, which once fuftain'd 

Nations and tribes, of vanifh'd memory, 

Forefts, and towns, and beafts of every clafs. 

Where navies now explore their briny way. 

Leander. 

Your fophiftry, Eugenio, makes me fmile : 
The rovino; mind of man delights to dwell 
On hidden things, merely becaufe they're hid : 

* Gen. X. 25. 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

He thinks his knowledge far beyond all limit, 

And boldly fathoms Nature's darkeft haunts 

But for uncertainties, your broken ifles. 

Your northern Tartars, and your wandering Jews, 

(The flimfy cobwebs of a fophift's brain) 

Hear what the voice of hiftory proclaims — 

The Carthaginians, ere the Roman yoke 

Broke their proud fpirits, and enflav'd them too, 

For navigation were renown'd as much 

As haughty Tyre with all her hundred fleets. 

Full many a league their vent'rous feamen fail'd 

Thro' ftreight Gibraltar, down the weftern ftiore 

Of Africa, to the Canary ifles : 

By them call'd Fortunate ; fo Flaccus"^ ^ings, 

Becaufe eternal fpring there clothes the fields 

And fruits delicious bloom throughout the year. — 

From voyaging here, this inference I draw. 

Perhaps fome barque with all her numerous crew 

Falling to leeward of her deflin'd port. 

Caught by the eaflern Trade^ was hurried on 

Before the unceafing blafl to Indian ifles, 

Brazil, La Plata, or the coafls more fouth — 

There flranded, and unable to return. 

Forever from their native fkies eflrang'd 

Doubtlefs they made thefe virgin climes their own, 

And in the courfe of long revolving years 

A numerous progeny from thefe arofe, 

* Hor. Epod. 1 6. 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

And fpread throughout the coafts — thofe whom we call 
Brazilians, Mexicans, Peruvians rich. 
The tribes of Chili, Patagon, and thofe 

Who till the fhores of Amazon's long ftream. i 

When firft the power of Europe here attain'd i 

Vaft empires, kingdoms, cities, palaces 

And polifh'd nations fl:ock'd the fertile land. 

Who has not heard of Cufco, Lima, and 

The town of Mexico — huge cities form'd 

From Europe's archite6lure ; ere the arms 

Of haughty Spain difturb'd the peaceful foil. 

But here^ amid this northern dark domain 

No towns were feen to rife. — No arts were here ; 

The tribes unfkill'd to raife the lofty maft, 

Or force the daring prow thro* adverfe waves, 

Gaz'd on the pregnant foil, and crav'd alone 

Life from the unaided genius of the ground, — 

This indicates they were a different race ; 

From whom defcended, 'tis not ours to fay — 

That power, no doubt, who furnifh'd trees, and plants. 

And animals t6 this vaft continent. 

Spoke into being man among the reft, 

But what a change is here ! — what arts arife ! 
What towns and capitals ! how commerce waves 
Her gaudy flags, where filence reign'd before ! 

Acajio. 

Speak, my Eugenio, for I've heard you tell 
The difmal ftory, and the caufe that brought 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

The firft adventurers to thefe weftern fhores ; 
The glorious caufe that urg'd our fathers firft 
To vifit climes unknown, and wilder woods 
Than e'er Tartarian or Norwegian faw, 
And with fair culture to adorn a foil 
That never felt the induftrious fwain before. 

Eugenio. 

All this long ftory to rehearfe, would tire, 
Befides, the fun toward the weft retreats. 
Nor can the nobleft theme retard his fpeed, 
Nor loftieft verfe — not that which fang the fall 
Of Troy divine, and fierce Achilles' ire. 
Yet hear a part : — By perfecution wrong'd, 
And facerdotal rage, our fathers came 
From Europe's hoftile fhores to thefe abodes, 
Here to enjoy a liberty m faith ^ 
Secure from tyranny and bafe controul. 
For this they left their country and their friends, 
And dar'd the Atlantic wave in queft of peace ; 
And found new fhores, and fylvan fettlements, 
And men, alike unknowing and unknown. 
Hence, by the care of each adventurous chief 
New governments (their wealth unenvied yet) 
Were form'd on liberty and virtue's plan. 
Thefe fearching out uncultivated tra(3:s 
Conceiv'd new plans of towns, and capitals, 
And fpacious provinces — Why fhould I name 
Thee, Penn, the Solon of our weftern lands j 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

Sagacious legiflator, whom the world 

Admires, long dead : an infant colony^ 

Nurs'd by thy care, now rifes o'er the reft 

Like that tall Pyramid in Egypt's wafte 

O'er all the neighbouring piles, they alfo great. 

Why fhould I name thofe heroes fo well known. 

Who peopled all the reft from Canada 

To Georgia's fartheft coafts. Weft Florida, 

Or Apalachian mountains ? — Yet what ftreams 

Of blood were ftied ! what Indian hofts were flain. 

Before the days of peace were quite reftor'd ! 

Leander, 

Yes, while they overturn'd the rugged foil 
And fwept the forefts from the ftiaded plain 
'Midft dangers, foes, and death, fierce Indian tribes 
With vengeful maHce arm'd, and black defign, 
Oft murdered, or difpers'd, thefe colonies — 
Encourag'd, too, by Gallia's hoftile fons, 
A warlike race, who late their arms difplay'd 
At ^ebec^ Montreal^ and fartheft coafts 
Of Labrador^ or Cape Breton^ where now 
The Britifti ftandard awes the fubje6l hoft. 
Here, thofe brave chiefs, who, lavifti of their blood, 
Fought in Britannia's caufe, in battle fell ! — 
What heart but mourns the untimely fate of Wolfe 
Who, dying, conquer'd ! — or what breaft but beats 
To ftiare a fate Hke his, and die like him ! 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

Acafto. 

But why alone commemorate the dead, 
And pafs thofe glorious heroes by, who yet 
Breathe the fame air, and fee the hght with us ? — 
The dead, Leander, are but empty names. 
And they who fall to-day the fame to us 
As they who fell ten centuries ago ! — 
Loft are they all that fhin'd on earth before ; 
Rome's boldeft champions in the duft are laid, 
Ajax and great Achilles are no more. 

And Philip's warlike fon, an empty fhade ! 

A Washington among our fons of fame 
We boaft confpicuous as the morning ftar 

Among the inferior lights 

To diftant wilds Virginia fent him forth — 
With her brave fons he gallantly oppos'd 
The bold invaders of his country's rights. 
Where wild Ohio pours the mazy flood. 
And mighty meadows Ikirt his fubje6t ftreams. — 
But now, delighting in his elm tree's fhade. 
Where deep Potowmac laves the enchanting fhore. 
He prunes the tender vine, or bids the foil 

Luxuriant harvefts to the fun difplay. 

Behold a different fcene — not thus employ'd 
Were Cortez^ and Pizarro^ pride of Spain, 
Whom blood and murder only fatisfy'd. 
And all to glut their avarice and ambition ! 



10 THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

Eugenia. 

Such is the curfe, Acafto, where the foul 

Humane is wanting — but we boaft no feats 

Of cruelty like Europe's murdering breed — 

Our milder epithet is merciful, 

And each American, true hearted, learns 

To conquer, and to fpare ; for coward fouls 

Alone feek vengeance on a vanquifh'd foe. 

Gold, fatal gold, was the alluring bait 

To Spain's rapacious tribes — hence rofe the wars 

From Chili to the Caribbean fea. 

And Montezuma's Mexican domains : 

More bleft are we, with whofe unenvied foil 

Nature decreed no mingling gold to fhine, 

No flaming diamond, precious emerald, 

No blufhing fapphire, ruby, chryfolite, 

Or jafper red — more noble riches flow 

From agriculture, and the induftrious fwain, 

Who tills the fertile vale, or mountain's brow, 

Content to lead a fafe, a humble life. 

Among his native hills, romantic fhades 

Such as the mufe of Greece of old did feign, 

Allur'd the Olympian gods from chryftal Ikies, 

Envying fuch lovely fcenes to mortal man. 

Leander. 

Long has the rural life been juftly fam'd, 
And bards of old their pleafing pi6lures drew 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. II 

Of flowery meads, and groves, and gliding ftreams ; 
Hence, old Arcadia — wood-nymphs, fatyrs, fawns 5 
And hence Elyfium, fancied heaven below ! — 
Fair agriculture, not unworthy kings. 
Once exercis'd the royal hand, or thofe 
Whofe virtues rais'd them to the rank of gods. 
See, old Laertes"^ in his fhepherd weeds 
Far from his pompous throne and court auguft. 
Digging the grateful foil, where round him rife 
Sons of the earth, the tall afpiring oaks. 
Or orchards, boafting of more fertile boughs, 
Laden with apples red, fweet fcented peach. 
Pear, cherry, apricot, or spungy plumb ; 
While through the glebe the induftrious oxen draw 
The earth-inverting plough. — Thofe Romans too, 
Fabricius and Camillus, lov'd a Hfe 
Of neat fimplicity and ruftic bhfs. 
And from the noify Forum haftening far, 
From bufy camps, and fycophants, and crowns, 
*Midft woods and fields fpent the remains of Ufe^ 
Where full enjoyment ftill awaits the wife. 
How grateful, to behold the harvefts rife, 
And mighty crops adorn the extended plains ! — 
Fair plenty fmiles throughout, while lowing herds 
Stalk o'er the fhrubby hill or grafly mead. 

Or at fome fhallow river flake their thirft. 

The inclofure^ now, fucceeds the fhepherd's care, 

* Horn. Odyff. B. 24. 



12 THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

Yet milk-white flocks adorn the well ftock'd farm, 
And court the attention of the induftrious fwain — 
Their fleece rewards him well ; and when the winds 
Blow with a keener blaft, and from the north 
Pour mingled tempefts through a funlefs fky 
(Ice, fleet, and rattling hail) fecure he fits 
Warm in his cottage, fearlefs of the ftorm, 
Enjoying now the toils of milder moons. 

Yet hoping for the fpring. Such are the joys. 

And fuch the toils of thofe whom heaven hath blefs'd 
With fouls enamour'd of a country Hfe. 

Ac aft 0. 

Such are the vifions of the ruftic reign — 

But this alone, the fountain of fupport. 

Would fcarce employ the varying mind of man ; 

Each feeks employ, and each a different way : 

Strip Commerce of her fail, and men once more 

Would be converted into favages — 

No nation e'er grew focial and refin'd 

'Till Commerce firft had wing'd the adventurous prow, 

Or fent the flow-pac'd caravan, afar. 

To waft their produce to fome other clime. 

And bring the wifh'd exchange — thus came, of old, 

Golconda's golden ore, and thus the wealth 

Of Ophir^ to the wifefl: of mankind. 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 1 3 

Eugenia . 

Great is the praife of Commerce, and the men 
Deferve our praife, who fpread the undaunted fail, 
And traverfe every fea — their dangers great. 
Death ftill to combat in the unfeehng gale, 
And every billow but a gaping grave : — 
There, fkies and waters, wearying on the eye, 
For weeks and months no other profpe6t yield 
But barren waftes, unfathom'd depths, where not 
The blifsful haunt of human form is feen 

To cheer the unfocial horrors of the way 

Yet all thefe bold defigns to Science owe 

Their rife and glory Hail, fair Science ! thou, 

Tranfplanted from the eaftern fkies, doft bloom 

In thefe bleft regions Greece and Rome no more 

Detain the Mufes on Cithceron's brow. 
Or old Olympus^ crown'd with waving woods. 
Or HcEmus' top, where once was heard the harp, 
Sweet Orpheus' harp, that gain'd his caufe below. 
And pierc'd the heart of Orcus and his bride ; 
That hufh'd to filence by its voice divine 
Thy melancholy waters, and the gales 

O Hebrus ! that o'er thy fad furface blow. 

No more the maids round Alpheus' waters ftray. 
Where he with Jrethufa^s ftream doth mix. 
Or where fwift Tiber difembogues his waves 
Into the Itahan fea, fo long unfung ; 
Hither they wing their way, the laft the beft 



14 THE RISING GLORY OF AMER.ICA. 

Of countries, \f here the arts fhall rife and grow, 

And arms fhall have their day — even now we boaft 

A Franklin^ prince of all philofophy, 

A genius piercing as the ele6lric fire, 

Bright as the lightning's flafh, explained fo well 

By him, the rival of Britannia's fage.* — 

This is the land of every joyous found. 

Of liberty and life, fweet liberty ! 

Without whofe aid the nobleft genius fails, 

And Science irretrievably muft die. 

Leander, 
But come, Eugenio, fince we know the paft 



What hinders to pervade with fearching eye 

The myftic fcenes of dark futurity ! 

Say, fhall we afk what empires yet mufl rife. 

What kingdoms, powers and states, where now are feen 

Mere dreary wafles and awful folitude, 

Where Melancholy fits, with eye forlorn. 

And time anticipates, when we fhall fpread 

Dominion from the north, and fouth, and weft. 

Far from the Atlantic to Pacific fhores, 

And fhackle half the convex of the main ! 

A glorious theme ! — but how fhall mortals dare 
To pierce the dark events of future years 
And fcenes unravel, only known to fate ? 

* Newton. 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. I5 

Acafto. 

This might we do, if warm'd by that bright coal 
Snatch'd from the altar of cherubic fire 
Which touched Ifaiah's lips — or if the fpirit 
Of Jeremy and Amos, prophets old. 

Might fwell the heaving breaft 1 fee, I fee 

Freedom's establiih'd reign ; cities, and men, 
Numerous as fands upon the ocean fhore. 
And empires rifing where the fun defcends ! — 
The Ohio foon fhall glide by many a town 
Of note ; and where the MiJJiJippi ftream. 
By forefts fliaded, now runs weeping on, 
Nations fhall grow, and states not lefs in fame 
Than Greece and Rome of old ! — we too fhall boafl 
Our Scipio's, Solon's, Cato's, fages, chiefs 
That in the womb of time yet dormant lie, 

Waiting the joyous hour of life and light 

O fnatch me hence, ye mufes, to thofe days 
When through the veil of dark antiquity 
Our fons fhall hear of us as things remote. 

That bloflbm'd in the morn of days Alas ! 

How could I weep that vC^e were born fo foon, 
Juft in the dawning of thefe mighty times, 
Whofe fcenes are panting for eternity ! 
DilTentions that fhall fwell the trump of fame, 
And ruin brooding o'er all monarchy ! 



l6 THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

Eugenio. 

Nor ftiall thefe angry tumults here subfide 

Nor murders* ceafe, through all thefe provinces, 

Till foreign crowns have vanifh'd from our view^ 

And dazzle here no more no more prefume 

To awe the fpirit of fair Liberty — 
Vengeance fhall cut the thread — And Britain, fure, 
Will curfe her fatal obftinacy for it ! 
Bent on the ruin of this injur'd country, 
She will not liften to our humble prayers, 
Though offer'd with fubmiflion : 
Like vagabonds, and objects of deftru6lion, 
Like thofe whom all mankind are fworn to hate, 
She cafts us ofF from her prote6lion, 
. And will invite the nations round about. 
Ruffians and Germans, Haves and favages. 

To come and have a fhare in our perdition 

O cruel race, O unrelenting Britain, 

Who bloody beafts will hire to cut our throats. 

Who war will wage with prattling innocence. 

And bafely murder unoffending women ! 

Will ftab their prifoners when they cry for quarter. 
Will burn our towns, and from his lodging turn 

The poor inhabitant to lleep in tempests ! 

Thefe will be wrongs, indeed, and all fufficient 
To kindle up our fouls to deeds of horror, 

* The maffacre at Bofton, March 5th, 1770, is here more particularly 
glanced at. 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. 

And give to every arm the nerves of Sainpfzn — 
Thefe are the men that fill the world with ruin, 

And even' region mourns their greedv l\vay 

Nor only for ambition 

But what are this world's goods, that they for them 

Should exercife perpetual butchery ? 

What are thefe mightv riches we poflefs, 

That thev fhould fend fo far to plunder them ? — 

Alreadv have we felt their potent arm — 

And ever fince that inaufpicious day. 

When firft Sir Francis Bernard 

His cannons planted at the council door^ 

And made the affembly room a home for ftrumpets, 

And foldiers rank and file — e'er fince that dav 

This wretched land, that drinks its children's gore, 

Has been a fcene of tumult and confufion ! — 

Are there not evils in the world enough ? 

Are we fo happy that thev envv us r 

Have we not toil'd to fatisfv their harpies, 

King's deputies, that are infatiable ; 

Whose practice is to incenfe the royal mind 

And make us defpicable in his view ? 

Have we not all the evils to contend with 

That, in this life, mankind are fubjecl to. 

Pain, ficknefs, povertv and natural death — 

But into every wound that nature gave 

Thev will a dagger plunge, and make them mortal I 



Its THE RISING GJORY OF AMERICA. 

Leander. 

Enough, enough — fuch difmal fcenes you paint, 
I almoft fhudder at the recolle6lion — 
What, are they dogs that they would mangle us ?- 
Are thefe the men that come with bafe defign 
To rob the hive, and kill the induftrious bee ! — 
To brighter fkies I turn my ravifh'd view, 
And fairer prorpe6ts from the future draw — 
Here independent power fliall hold her fway, 
And public virtue warm the patriot breaft : 
No traces fhall remain of tyranny. 
And laws, a pattern to the world befide, 
Be here enadted firft. 

Jca/io. 

And when a train of rolling years are paft, 

(So fung the exil'd feer in Patmos ifle) 

A new Jerufalem, fent down from heaven, 

Shall grace our happy earth — perhaps this land, 

Whofe ample breaft fhall then receive, tho' late, 

Myriads of faints, with their immortal king. 

To live and reign on earth a thoufand years, 

Thence called Millennium. Paradife anew 

Shall flourifti, by no fecond Adam loft. 

No dangerous tree with deadly fruit fhall grow, 

No tempting ferpent to allure the foul 

From native innocence. A Canaan here, 

Another Canaan fhall excel the old, 



THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA. I9 

And from a fairer Pifgah's top be feen. 
No thiftle here, nor thorn, nor briar fhall fpring, 
Earth's curfe before : the Hon and the lamb, 
In mutual friendfhip link'd, fhall browfe the fhrub, 
And timorous deer with foften'd tygers ftray 
O'er mead, or lofty hill, or grafly plain : 
Another Jordan's ftream fhall glide along. 
And Siloah's brook in circling eddies flow : 
Groves fhall adorn their verdant banks, on which 
The happy people, free from toils and death, 
Shall find fecure repofe. No fierce difeafe, 
No fevers, flow confumption, ghaftly plague, 
(Fate's ancient miniflers) again proclaim 
Perpetual war with man : fair fruits fhall bloom, 
Fair to the eye, and grateful to the tafle ; 
Nature's loud florms be hufh'd, and feas no more 
Rage hoflile to mankind — and, worfe than all. 
The fiercer paflions of the human breafl 
Shall kindle up to deeds of death no more, 

But all fubfide in univerfal peace. 

Such days the world, 

And fuch, America, thou firfl fhalt have, 
When ages, yet to come, have run their round, 
And future years of blifs alone remain. 



TO THE AMERICANS 

ON THE RUMOURED APPROACH OF THE HESSIAN FORCES, 
WALDECKERS, &c., 1775. 



The blaft of death ! the infernal guns prepare — 
" Rife with the ftorm and all its dangers (hare." 

Occafioned by General Gage's Proclamation : That the Provinces were in a 
ftate of Rebellion and out of the King's protedlion.* 

15 EBELS you are — the Britifti champion cries — 

Truth, ftand thou forth ! — and tell the wretch, He 
lies : — 
Pvcbels ! — and fee this mock imperial lord 
Already threats thefe rebels with the coRD.f 

* General Gage's celebrated Proclamation at Bofton, iffued June 12, 1775. 
It began : " Whereas the infatuated multitudes, who have long fuffered them- 
felves to be conduded by certain well-known incendiaries and traitors, in a fatal 
progreflion of crimes againft the conftitutional authority of the ftate, have at 
length proceeded to avowed rebellion, and the good efFedts which were expeded 
to arife from the patience and lenity of the king's government have been often 
fruftrated, and are now rendered hopelefs by the influence of the fame evil coun- 
fels, it only remains for thofe who are intrufted with the fupreme rule, as well 
for the punifhment of the guilty as the protedlion of the well-afFe6led, to prove 
that they do not bear the fword in vain." Frothingham, in his "Siege of Bof- 
ton," cites the comment of Mrs. Adams, in a letter dated June 15, 1775, to her 
hufband John Adams : " Gage's Proclamation you will receive by this convey- 
ance. All the records of time cannot produce a blacker page. Satan, when 
driven from the regions of blifs, exhibited not more malice. Surely the father 
of lies is fuperfeded. Yet we think it the beft proclamation he could have 
iffued." 

■{• General Wafhington, from his head-quarters at Cambridge, on the nth of 



TO TI-IE AMEP.ICANS. 21 

The hour draws nigh, the glafs is almoft run, 
When truth will (hine, and ruffians be undone ; 
When this bafe mifcreant will forbear to Tneer, 
And curfe his taunts, and bitter infults, here, 

U to controul the cunning of a knave, 
Freedom refpe6l, and fcorn the name of slave ; 
If to proteft againft a tyrant's laws. 
And arm for vengeance in a righteous caufe 
Be deemed Rebellion — 'tis a harmlefs thing : 
This bug-bear name, like death, has loft its Jiing, 

Americans ! at freedom's fane adore ! 

But truft to Britain and her flag, no more : 

The gsnerous genius of their ifle has fled, 

And left a mere impoftor in his ftead. 

a conquered, rebels (their Scotch records fhow) 

Receive no mercy from the parent foe.* 

Nay, even the grave, that friendly haunt of peace, 
(Where nature gives the woes of man to ceafe) 

Auguft, 1775, addrefled Lieutenant-General Gage, aflerting, among other com- 
plaints : " That the officers engaged in the caufe of liberty and their country, who 
by the fortune of war have fallen into your hands, have been thrown indifcrim- 
inately into a common gaol appropriated for felons," and threatening retaliation 
in like cafes, '"exadtly by the rule you fhall obferve towards thofe of ours now in 
your cuftody/' To this Gage replied, on the 13th : "Britons, ever pre-eminent 
in mercy, have outgone common examples, and overlooked the criminal in the 
captive. Upon thefe principles your prifoners, whofe lives, by the law of the 
land, are dejiined to the ccrd, have hitherto been treated with care and kind- 
ness," <S:c. 

* After the battle of Culloden. See Smollett's Hiftory of England, 1745 . 
— Author' i Note. 



22 TO THE AMERICANS. 

Vengeance will fearch — and burled corpfes there 
Be raifed to feaft the vultures of the air — 
Be hanged on gibbets ! — fuch a war they wage — 
Sach are the devils that fwell our fouls with rage ! — 

IF Britain conquers, help us, heaven, to fly : 

Lend us your wings, ye ravens of the iky ; — 

If Britain conquers, we exift no more ; 

Thefe lands will redden with their children's gore, 

Who, turned to flaves, their fruitlefs toils will moan, 

Toils in thefe fields, that once they called their own ! 

To arms ! to arms ! — and let the murdering fword 
Decide, who bell deferves the Hangman's cord : 
Nor think the hills of Canada too bleak 
When defperate Freedom is the prize you feek ; 
For that^ the call of honour bids you go 
O'er frozen lakes, and mountains wrapt in snow : 
No toils fliould daunt the nervous and the bold. 
They fcorn all heat, or wave congeahng cold. — 

Hafte ! — to your tents in iron fetters bring 
Thefe slaves, that ferve a tyrant, and a king. 
So juft, so virtuous is your caufe, I fay. 
Hell muft prevail, if Britain gains the day. 



EMANCIPATION FROM BRITISH DEPENDENCE. 

Libera nos^ Domine — Deliver us, O Lord, 
Not only from Britifh Dependence, but alfo, 

TJ^ROM a junto that labour for abfolute power, 

Whofe fchemes difappointed, have made them look four^ 
From the lords of the council, who fight againft freedom, 
Who ftill follow on where delufion fhall lead 'em. 

From the group at St. James's that flight our Petitions, 
And fools that are waiting for further fubmiffions — 
From a nation whofe manners are rough and abrupt. 
From fcoundrels and rafcals, whom gold can corrupt. 



From pirates fent out, by command of the king 
I To murder and plunder, but never to fwing ; 
From Wallace^ and Graves^ and Vipers^ and Rofes^"^ 
Whom, if heaven pleafes, we'll give bloody nofes. 

* Sir James Wallace, Admiral Graves, and Captain Montague were Britilh 
naval officers employed on our coaft. The Viper and Rofe were veflels in the 
fei vice. Lord Dunmore, the laft Royal Governor of Virginia, had recently, in 
April, 1775, removed the public ftores from Williamlburg, and, in cocjundlion 
with a party of adherents, fupported by the naval force on the rtation, was ma- 
king v»ar on the province. William Tryon, the laft Royal Governor of New 
York, informed of a refolution of the Continental Congrefs : "That it be recom- 
mended to the feveral provincijl aflemblies in conventions and councils, or com- 



24 EMANCIPATION FROM BRITISH DEPENDENCE. 

From the valiant Dunmore^ with his crew of banditti, 
Who plunder Virginians at Williamfburg city, 
From hot-headed Montague^ mighty to fv/ear, 
The little fat man, with his pretty white hair. 

YxQiw bifhops in Britain, who butchers are grown, 
From flaves, that would die for a fmile from the throne. 
From aflemblies, that vote againft Congrefs proceedings^ 
(Who now fee the fruit of their ftupid mifleadings.) 

From Tryon the mighty, who flies from our city. 
And fwell'd with importance difdains the committee : 
(But fince he is pleas'd to proclaim us his foes. 
What the devil care we where the devil he goes.) 

P'rom the caitiff, lord North^ who would bind us in chains. 
From our noble king Log, with his tooth-full of brains, 
Who dreams, and is certain (when taking a nap) 
He has conquered ouy lands, as they lay on his map. 

From a kingdom that buUies, and hectors, and fwears, 

I fend up to heaven my wifhes and prayers 

That we, difunited, may freemen be ftill. 

And Britain go on — to be damn'd if fhe will. {M7S'\ 

mittees of fafety, to arreft and fecure every perfon in their refpedlive colonies 
whofe going at large may, in their opinion, endanger the fafety of the colony or 
the liberties of America," difcerning the figns of the times, took refuge on beard 
the Halifax packet in the harbour, and left the city in the middle of Ot'cober, 



( 



GENERAL GAGE'S SOLILOQUY. 

Scene, Boston, befieged by the men of MafTachufetts.* 
Written and publijhcd in Neiv York, 1775. 



Why, let the ftricken deer go weep. 

The hart, unwounded, play — 
For fome muft write, while fome mult ff>eai y 

So runs the world away ! 

Shakefpeare. 



DESTRUCTION waits my call— fome demon fay 

Why does deftru6lion linger on her way ! 
Charleftown is burnt, and Warren is deceas'd — 
Heav'ns ! fhall we never be from war releas'd ? 



* General Thomas Gage, the laft Royal Governor of MafTachufetts, arrived at 
Bofton as the fucceflbr of Governor Hutchinfon in May, 1774. His firft ap- 
pearance in America was in 1755, as Lieutenant-Colonel in the army of Gen- 
eral Braddock. He was with that ill-fated officer at the time of his defeat, bore 
himfelf confpicuoufly in the battle, and was wounded on the field. A few years 
later, in 1760, he was Governor of Montreal, and, in 1763, fucceeded General 
Amherft in command of the Britirti forces in North America. He had married 
a lady of New Jerfey, and was in good efteem in the colonies for his agreeable 
manners. Not much, however, fays Irving, was expefted from him in his new 
poft of Governor of MafTachufetts, " by thofe who knew him well." He was 
narrow-minded, and failed to eftimate at their proper value the new elements of 
the fituation in which he was placed. He relied upon force for the fuppreffion 
of the popular fentiment, offended the people by his didlatorial interference, and 
clofed a year of aggrefTion by his celebrated Proclamation of the 12th of June, 



26 GENERAL GAGE's SOLILOQUY. 

Ten years the Greeks befieg'd the walls of Troy, 
But when did Grecians their own towns deftroy ? 
Yes ! that's the point — Let thofe who will, fay, No ; 
If George and North decree — it muft be fo. 

Doubts, black as night, difturb my lov'd repofe — 
Men that were once my friends have turn'd my foes — 
What if we conquer this rebellious town. 
Suppofe we burn it, ftorm it, tear it down — 
This land's like Hydra^ cut ofF but one head. 
And TEN fhall rife, and dare you in its ftead. 
If to fubdue a league or two of coaft 
Requires a navy, and fo large a hoft, 
How fhall a length of twice feven hundred miles 
Be brought to bend to two European ifles ? — 
And that^ when all their utmoft ftrength unite, 
When twelve* dominions fwear to arm and fight, 
When the fame fpirit darts from every eye. 
One fix'd refolve to gain their point or die. 

As for myfelf — true — I was born to fight 

1775, ''^ which he declared martial law, and offered pardon, on fubmiffion, to all 
offenders fave Samuel Adams and John Hancock. He had juft before been 
joined by Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne. Admiral Graves was in com- 
mand of the government veffels in the harbour. The war of the Revolution, com- 
menced at Lexington in April, w^as now in progrefs. The battle of Bunker Hill 
was the prompt anfwer of the yeomanry of Maffachufetts to the Proclamation. 
Wafhington took the field, arriving before Bofton at the beginning of July, and 
the fiege of that city, commemorated in the poem, was commenced. GeneraJ 
Gage continued in command till Odtober, when, leaving Major-General Howe 
as his fucceffor, he returned to England. Howe remained at Bofton till the fol- 
lowing March, when he was compelled, by the military operations of Wafhing- 
ton in the vicinity, to evacuate the city. Gage died in England in 1788. 
* Georgia had not at this time acceded to the Union of the 1 3 States. 



GENERAL GAGE S SOLILOQUY. 2/ 

As George commands, let him be wrong or right, 
While from his hand I fqueeze the golden prize 
I'll afk no queftions, and he'll tell no Hes — 
But did I fwear, I afk my heart again. 
In their bafe projects monarchs to maintain ? 
Yes — when Rebellion her artillery brings 
And aims her arrows at the beft of kings, 
I ftand a champion in my monarch's caufe — - 
The men are rebels that refift his laws. 

A VICEROY I — hke modern monarchs, ftay 
Safe in the town — let others guide the fray : 
A life, like mine, is of no common worth : 
'Twere wrong, by heaven, that I fhould fally forth ! 
A random bullet from a rifle fent 
Might pierce my heart ; and ruin North's intent : 
Let others combat in the dufty field. 
Let petty captains fcorn to live or yield, 
I'll fend my ftiips to neighbouring ifles, where ftray 
Unnumb'red herds, and fteal thofe herds away, 
I'll ftrike the women in this town with awe. 
And make them tremble at my martial law. 

Should gracious heaven befriend our troops and fleet, 
And throw this vaft dominion at my feet. 
How would Britannia echo with my fame ! 
What endlefs honours would await my name ! 
In every province fhould the traveller fee 

Recording marble rais'd, to honour me 

Hard by the lakes, my fovereign lord would grant 
A rural empire lo fupply rny want. 



28 GENERAL GAGE's SOLILOQUY. 

A manor would but poorly ferve my turn, 
Lefs than a kingdom from my foul I fcorn ! 
An ample kingdom round Ontario's lake 
By heaven, fliould be the leaft reward I'd take, 
There might I reign, unrivall'd and alojne. 

An ocean and an empire of my own ! 

What though the fcribblers and the wits might fay, 

He built his pile on vanqui/Fd Liberty 

Let others meanly dread the flanderous tongue. 
While I obey my king, can I do wrong ? — 

Then, to accomplifh all my foul's defire. 
Let red-hot bullets fet their towns on fire ; 
May heaven, if fo the righteous judgment pafs. 
Change earth to fteel, the fky to folid brafs. 
Let hofts combin'd, from Europe centring here. 
Strike this bafe offspring with alarm and fear ; 
Let heaven's broad concave to the center ring. 
And blacked night expand her fable wing. 
The infernal powers in dufky combat join. 
Wing the fwift ball, or fpring the deadly mine ; 
(Since 'tis moft true, tho' fome may think it odd, 
The foes of Britain are the foes of God :) 
Let bombs, like comets, kindle all the air. 
Let cruel famine prompt the orphan's prayer. 
And every ill that war or want can bring 
Be fliower'd on fubjecfts that renounce their king. 

What is their plea ? — our fovereign only meant 
This people ftiould be tax'd without confent. 
Ten years the court with fecret ciKining try'd 



GENERAL GAGE S SOLILOQUY. 29 

To gain this point — the event their hopes bely'd : 
How fhould they elfe than fometimes mifs the mark 
Who fleep at helm, yet think to fteer the barque ? 
North, take advice ; thy lucky genius fhow, 
Difpatch Sir Jeffery"^ to xh^Jiates below. 
That gloomy prince, whom mortals Satan call, 
Muft help us quickly, if he help at all — 
Ton ftrive in vain by force of bribes to tie. 
They fee thro' all your fchemes with half an eye, 
If open force with fecret bribes /join, 
The conteft fickens — and the day is mine. 

But hark the trumpet's clangor — hark — ah me ! 
What means this march of Wajhington and Lee ? 
When men, like thefe, fuch diftant marches make, 
Fate whifpers fomething — that we can't miftake ; — 
When men like thefe defy my martial rule. 

Good heaven ! it is no time to play the fool 

Perhaps, they for their country's freedom rife ; 

North has, perhaps, deceiv'd mxc with his lies. — 

If George at laft a tyrant fhould be found, 

A cruel tyrant, by no fan6lions bound, 

And I, myfelf, in an unrighteous caufe 

Be fent to execute the worft of laws. 

How will thofe dead whom I conjur'd to fight — 

Who funk in arms to everlafting night, 

Whofe blood the conquering foe confpir'd to fpill 

At Lexington and Bunker's fatal hill, 

Sir Jeffery Amherft, who about this time refufed to adl againft the colo- 
caufe. — Author^i Note. 



30 GENERAL GAGE S SOLILOQUY. 

Whofe mangled corpfes fcanty graves embrace — 
Rife from thofe graves, and curfe me to my face ? — - 

Alas ! that e'er ambition bade me roam, 
Or thirft of power forfake my native home — 
What fliall I do ? — there^ crowd the hoftile bands ; 
Here^ waits a navy to receive commands — 
I fpeak the language of my heart — fhall I 
Steal off by night, and o'er the ocean fly, 
Like a loft man to unknown regions ftray. 
And to oblivion leave this ftormy day ? — 
Or fhall I to Britannia's fhores again. 
And, big with lies, conceal my thoufands flain ? — 

Yes — to fome diftant clime my courfe I fteer, 
To any country rather than be here. 
To worlds, where Reafon fcarce exerts her law, 

A branch-built cottage, and a bed of ftraw 

Even Scotland's coaft feems charming in my fight, 

And frozen Zembla yields a ftrange delight. — 

But fuch vexations in my bofom burn. 

That to thefe fhores I never will return, 

'Till fruits and flowers on Greenland's coafts be known. 

And frofts are thaw'd in climates once their own. 

Ye fouls of fire, who burn for chief command. 
Come ! take my place in this difaftrous land ; 
To wars like thefe I bid a long good night — | 

Let North and George themfelves fuch battles fight." | 



THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS : OR A TRIP TO 
BOSTON. 

CjMALL blifs is theirs, whom Fate's too heavy hand 
Confines through life to fome fmall fpeck of land ; 
More wretched they, whom heaven infpires to roam, 
Yet languifh out their lives, and die at home. 

Heaven gave to man this wide extended round. 
No climes confine him, and no oceans bound ; 
Heaven gave him foreft, mountain, vale and plain, 
And bade him vanquifh, if he could, the main 5 
But fordid cares our fhort-liv'd race confine. 
Some toil at trades, fome labour in the mine. 
The mifer hoards, and guards his fhining fi:ore, 
The fun ftill rifes where he rofe before — 
No happier fcenes his e^.rth-born fancy fill 
Than one dark valley, or one well-known hill, 
To other fhores his mind, untaught to ftray. 
Dull and ina6tive, (lumbers life away. 

But by the aid of yonder glimmering beam 
The pole ftar, faithful to my vagrant dream. 
Wild regent of my heart ! in dreams convey 
Where herded Britons their bold ranks difplay ; 
So late the pride of England's fertile foil. 
(Her grandeur heighten'd by fucceffive toil) 



32 THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 

See, how they ficken in thefe hoftile climes, 
Themes for the ftage, and fubje6ls for our rhimes. 

What modern poet have the mufes led 
To draw the curtain that conceals the dead? 
What bolder bard to Bofton fhall repair. 
To view the peevifh, half-ftarv'd fpeftres there ? 

O thou wrong'd country ! why fuftain thefe ills ? 
Why reft thy navies on their native hills ? 
See, endlefs forefts fhade the uncultur'd plain, 
Defcend, ye forefts, and command the main : 
A leafy verdure (hades the mighty maft. 
And every oak bends idly to the blaft, 
Earth's entrails teem with ftores for your defence, 
Defcend, and drag the ftores of war from thence ; 
Your fertile foil the flowing fail fupplies. 

And Europe's arts in every village rife 

No want is yours — Difdain unmanly fear. 
And fwear, no Tyrant Jhall reign majler here ,- 
Know your own ftrength — in rocky deferts bred, 
Shall the fierce tiger by the dog be led. 
And bear all infults from that fnarling race 

Whofe courage lies in impudence of face ? 

No — rather bid the wood's wild native turn. 
And from his fide the unfaithful guardian fpurn. 

Now, pleas'd, I wander to the dome of ftate 
Where Gage refides, our weftern potentate — 
Chief of ten thoufand, all a race of flaves, 
Sent to be ftirouded in untimely graves ; 
Sent by our angry 'Jove^ fent fword in hand 



THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 33 

To murder, burn, and ravage through the land — 

You dream of conqueft — tell me how or whence — 
A61 like a man, and get you gone from hence ; 
A madman fent you to this hoftile fhore 
To vanquifh nations, that fhall fpill your gore — 
Go fiends, and each in friendly league combin'd 
Deftroy, diftrefs, and triumph o'er mankind ! — 
'Tis not our peace this murdering hand reftrains, 
The want of power is made the monfter's chains ; 
Companion is a flranger to his heart, 
Or if it came, he bade the gueft depart ; 
The melting tear, the fympathifing groan 
Were never yet to Gage or 'Jefferies''' known ; 
The feas of blood his heart fore-dooms to fpill 
Is but a dying ferpent's rage to kill, 
What power fhall drive thefe vipers from our fhore, 
Thefe monflers fwoln with carnage, death, and gore * 
Twelve was the hour — congenial darknefs reign'd^ 

And no bright flar a mimic day-light feign'd 

Firft, Gage we faw — a crimfon chair of ftate 
Receiv'd the honour of his honour's weight, 
This man of flraw the regal purple bound. 
But dullnefs, deepeft dullnefs, hover'd round. 

Next Graves^ who wields the trident of the brine, 
The tall arch-captain of the embattled line 
All gloomy fate — mumbling of flame and fire, 
Balls, cannon, fhips, and all their damn'd attire ; 

* An inhuman butchering Englifh Judge. — Author^ Note. 
3 



34 



THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 

Well pleas'd to live in never ending hum, 
But empty as the interior of his drum. 

Hard by, Burgoyne alTumes an ample fpace. 
And feem'd to meditate with ftudious face. 
As if again he wifh'd our world to fee 
Long, dull, dry letters writ to General Lee — 
Huge fcrawls of words through endlefs circuits drawn 
Unmeaning, as the errand he's upon. — 
Is he to conquer — he fubdue our land ? — 
This buckram hero, with his lady's hand ? 
By Cefars to be vanquifh'd is a curfe. 
But by a fcribbHng fop — by heaven, is worfe ! 

Lord P'lercy feem'd to fnore — but may the mufe 
This ill-tim'd fnoring to the peer excufe ; 
Tir'd was the long boy of his toilfome day. 
Full fifteen miles he fled — a tedious way. 
How fhould he then the dews of Somnus fhun. 
Perhaps not ufed to walk, much lefs to run."^ 



* Lord Percy, fubfequently Duke of Northumberland. He was fent by Gage 
with a detachment to the fupport of Colonel Smith on the retreat of the latter 
from Concord, on the celebrated 19th of May, 1775. He came up with the re- 
treating party in the afternoon, and returned with the fugitives to Bofton. Trum- 
bull, in his " McFingal," celebrates the exploits of the Yankee provincials in tliis 
difaftrous flight, as they 

" Taught Percy fafhionabie races, 
And modern modes of Chevy-chaces." 

Halleck's allufion to Percy among the Dukes of Northumberland, in his " Aln- 
wick Caftle," will be remembered by the reader : — 



" Who, when a younger fon, 
Fought for King George at Lexington, 
A major of dragoons." 



THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS 3J 

Red fac'd as funs, when finking to repofe, 
Reciin'd the infernal captain of the RosE,^ 
In fame's proud temple aiming for a nich, 
With thofe who find her at the cannon's breech ; 
Skill'd to direct the cannonading (hot, 
No Turkifli rover half fo murdering hot, 
Pleas'd with bafe vengeance on defencelefs towns, 
His heart was mahce — but his words were, Zounds ! 

Howe, vext to fee his ftarving army's doom, 
Once more befought the fkies for elbow room — 
Small was his ftock, and theirs, of heavenly grace. 
Yet juft enough to aflc a larger place. — 
He curs'd the brainlefs minifter that plann'd 
His bootlefs errand to this hoftile land, 
But aw'd by Gage, his burfting wrath recoil'd, 
And in his inmoft bofom doubly boil'd. 

These, chief of all the tyrant-ferving train. 
Exalted fate — the reft (a penfion'd clan,) 
A fample of the multitudes that wait. 
Pale fons of famine, at perdition's gate. 
North's friends down fwarming, (fo our monarch wills) 
Hungry as death, from Caledonian hills ; 
Whofe endlefs numbers if you bid me tell, 
(I'll count the atoms of this globe as well) 
Knights, captains, 'fquires — a wonder-working band ! 
Held at fmall wages 'till they gain the land, 
FlockM penfive round — black fpleen aflail'd their hearts, 

* Captain Wallace. 



36 THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 

(The fport of plough boys, v/ith their arms and arts) 
And made them doubt (howe'er for vengeance hot) 
Whether they were invincible or not. 

Now Gage up-Jlarting from his cufhion'd feat 
Swore thrice, and cry'd — " 'Tis nonfenfe to be beat ! 
Thus to be drubb'd ! — pray, warriors, let me know 

Which be in fault, myfelf, the fates, or you 

Henceforth let Britain deem her men mere toys — 
Gods ! to be frightened thus by country boys j 
Why, if your men had had a mind to fup, 
They might have eat that fcare-crow^^ army up — 
Three thoufand to twelve hundred thus to yield, 
And twice five hundred ftretch'd upon the field ! — 
O fhame to Britain, and the Britifh name. 
Shame damps my heart, and I muft die with fhame — 
Thus to be worfted, thus difgrac'd and beat ! — 
You have the knack. Lord Piercy, to retreat. 
The death you 'fcap'd my warmeft blood congeals. 
Heaven grant me, too, fo fwift a pair of heels — 
In Chevy-Chace, as, doubtlefs, you have read, 
Lord Piercy would have fooner died than fled — 
Behold the virtues of your houfe decay — 
Ah ! how unlike the Piercy of that day !" 

Thus fpoke the great man in difdainful tone 
To the gay peer — not meant for him alone — 
But ere the tumults of his bofom rife 
Thus from his bench the intrepid peer replies : 

* Schocl-boy. — Ed. 1791; 



THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 37 

" When once the foul has reach'd the Stygian fhore, 

My prayer-book fays, it (hall return no more 

When once old Charon hoifts his tar-black'd fail, 
And his boat fwims before the infernal gale, 
Farewell to all that pleas'd the man above. 
Farewell to feats of arms, and joys of love. 
Farewell the trade that father Cain began. 
Farewell to wine, that cheers the heart of m.an ; 
All, all farewell ! — the penfive fliade muft go 
Where cold Medufa turns to ftone below. 
Where Belus* maids eternal labours ply 
To drench the cafk that ftays forever dry. 
And Sijiphus^ with many a weary groan. 
Heaves up the mount the ftill recoiling ftone ! 

" Since, then, this truth no mortal dares deny. 
That heroes, kings — and lords, themfelves, muft die. 
And yield to him who dreads no hoftile fword. 
But treats alike the peafant and the lord ; 
Since even great George muft in his turn give place 
And leave his crown, his Scotchmen, and his lace — 
How bleft is he, how prudent is the man 
Who keeps aloof from fate — while yet he can ; 
One well-aim'd ball can make us all no more 
Than fhipwreck'd fcoundrels on that leeward fhore. 

" But why, my friends, thefe hard reflections ftill 

On Lexington affairs 'tis Bunker's Flill — 

O fatal hill ! — one glance at thee reftrains 

My once warm blood, and chills it in my veins — 

May no fweet grafs adorn thy hateful creft 



38 THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 

That faw Britannia's braveft troops diftreft — 
Or if it does — may fome deftrudive gale 
The green leaf wither, and the grafs turn pale — 
All moifture to your brow may heaven deny, 

And God and man deteft you, juft as I 

'Tis Bunker's Hill, this night has brought us here, 
Pray queftion him who led your armies there. 
Nor dare my courage into queftion call. 
Or blame Lord Piercy for the fault of all." 

Howe chanc'd to nod while heathenifh Piercy fpoke. 
But as his lordfhip ceas'd, his honour 'woke, 
(Like thofe whom fermons into fleep betray) 
Then rubb'd his eyes, and thus was heard to fay : 

" Shall thofe who never ventur'd from the town^ 
Or their fhips' fides, now pull our glory down ? 
We fought our beft — fo God my honour fave — 
No Britifti foldiers ever fought fo brave — 
Refolv'd I led them to the hoftile lines, 
(From this day fam'd where'er great Phoebus ftiines) 
Firm at their head I took my dangerous ftand, 
Marching to death and Daughter, fword in hand, 
But wonted Fortune halted on her way. 
We fought with madmen, and we loft the day — 
Putnam's brave troops, your honours would have fwore 
Had robb'd the clouds of half their nitrous ftore, 
With my bold veterans ftrew'd the aftonish'd plain. 
For not one mufquet was discharg'd in vain. — 
But, honour'd Gage, why droops thy laurell'd head ? — ■ 
Five hundred foes we pack'd off to the dead. 



\ 



THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 39 

" Now captains, generals, hear me and attend ! 
Say, fhall we home for other fuccours fend ? 

Shall other navies crofs the ftormy main ? 

They may, but what fhall awe the pride of Spain ? 
Still for dominion haughty Louis pants — 
Ah ! how I tremble at the thoughts of France. — 
Shall mighty George, to enforce his injur'd laws, 

Tranfport all Ruffia to fupport the caufe ? 

That ally'd empire countlefs fhoals may pour 

Numerous as fands that ftrew the Atlantic fhore, 

But policy inclines my heart to fear 

They'll turn their arms againft us, when they're here — 

Come, let's agree — for fomething muft be done 

Ere autumn flies, and winter haftens on— 

When pinching cold our navy binds in ice, 

You'll find 'tis then too late to take advice." 

The clock ftrikes tivo I — Gage fmote upon his breafl. 

And cry'd, — " What fate determines muft be beft 

But now attend — a counfel I impart 

That long has laid the heavieft at my heart 

Three weeks — ye gods ! — nay, three long years it feems 

Since roaji-beefl have touch'd, except in dreams. 

In fleep, choice difhes to my view repair, 

Waking, I gape and champ the empty air. — 

Say, is it juft that I, who rule thefe bands, 

Should live on hufks, like rakes in foreign lands ? — 

Come let us plan fome proje6t ere we fleep 

And drink deftru6lion to the rebel fheep. 

On neighbouring ifles uncounted cattle ftray, 



4.0 THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 

Fat beeves, and fwine, an ill defended prey — 

Thefe are fit vifions for my noon day difli, 

Thefe, if my foldiers a6t as I would wifti, 

In one fhort week fhould glad your maws and mine — 

On mutton we will fup — on roaft beef dine." 

Shouts of applaufe re-echo'd thro' the hall, 
And what pleas'd one as furely pleas'd them all, 
Wallace was nam'd to execute the plan, 
And thus fheep-fteahng pleas'd them to a man. 

Now {lumbers ftole upon the great man's eye. 
His powder'd foretop nodded from on high. 
His lids juft ope'd to find how matters were, 
Dijfohe^ he faid, and fo dijfolv'd ye are^ 
Then downward funk to {lumbers dark and deep. 
Each nerve relaxed — and even his guts a{leep. 

EPILOGUE. 

WHAT are thefe ftrangers from a toreign i{le, 
That we fhould fear their hate, or court their fmile — 
Pride fent them here, pride blafled in the bud. 
Who if fhe can, will build her throne in blood. 
With {laughter'd millions glut her tearlefs eyes. 
And bid even virtue fall, that fhe may rife. 

What deep offence has fir'd a monarch's rage ? 
What moon-flruck madnefs feiz'd the brain of Gage ? 
Laughs not the foul when an imprifon'd crew 
Affect to pardon thofe they can't fubdue, 
Tho' thrice repuls'd, and hemm'd up to their flations, 



THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 4 1 

Yet ifflie pardons, oaths, and proclamations ' 



Too long our patient country wears their chains, 
Too long our wealth all-grafping Britain drains. 

Why ftill a handmaid to that diftant land ? 
Why ftill fubfervient to their proud command ? 
Britain the bold, the generous, and the brave 
Still treats our country like the meaneft flave, 
Her haughty lords already ftiare the prey. 

Live on our labours, and with fcorn repay 

Rife, fleeper, rife, while yet the power remains, 
And bind their nobles and their chiefs in chains : 
Bent on defl:ru6live plans, they fcorn our plea, 
'Tis our own efforts that muft make us free — - 
Born to contend, our lives we place at flake. 
And rife to conquerors'"' by the ftand we make. — 

The time may come when ftrangers rule no more, 
Nor cruel mandates vex from Britain's fhore. 
When commerce may extend her fhorten'd wing. 
And her rich freights from every climate bring. 
When mighty towns fhall flourifh free and great, 
Vaft their dominion, opulent their ftate, 
When one vaft cultivated region teems 
From ocean's fide to Miilifippi ftreams, 
While each enjoys his vine tree's peaceful fhade, 
And even the meaneft has no foe to dread. 

And you, who far from Liberty detain'd, 
Wear out exiftence in fome flavifti land — 

* Grow immortal. — Ed. 1795. 



42 THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS. 

Forfake thofe fhores, a felf-ejecSted throng, 
And arm'd for vengeance, here refent the wrong : 
Come to our chmes, where unchain'd rivers flow, 
And loftieft groves, and boundlefs forefts grow, 
Here the bleft foil your future care demands ; 
Come, fweep the forefts from thefe fhaded lands, 
And the kind earth fhall every toil repay. 
And harvefts flourifh as the groves decay. 

O heav'n-born Peace, renew thy wonted charms- 
Far be this rancour, and this din of arms — 
To warring lands return, an honour'd gueft, 
And blefs our crimfon ihore among the reft — 
Long may Britannia rule our hearts again. 
Rule as fhe rul'd in George the fecond's reign, 
May ages hence her growing grandeur fee. 
And fhe be glorious — but ourfelves as free ! 

[1775.] 



AMERICA INDEPENDENT: 

AND HER EVERLASTING DELIVERANCE FROM BRITISH 
TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION. 

Firji publi/hed in Philadelphia, by Mr. Robert Bell, in 1778. 



To him who would relate the ftory right, 
A mind fupreme fliould diftate, or indite. — 

Yes ! — ^juftly to record the tale of fame, 
A mufe from heaven fhould touch the foul with flame, 
Some powerful fpirit, in fuperior lays, 
Should tell the confiifts of thefe ftormy days ! 



^^T^IS done ! and Britain for her madnefs fighs — 

Take warning, tyrants, and henceforth be wife. 
If o'er mankind man gives you regal fway, 
Take not the rights of human kind avi^ay. 

When God from chaos gave this world to be, 
Man then he form'd, and form'd him to be free, 
In his own image ftampt the favourite race — 
How dar'ft thou, tyrant, the fair ftamp deface ! 
When on mankind you fix your abje6t chains, 
No more the image of that God remains ; 
O'er a dark fcene a darker (hade is drawn. 
His work difhonour'd, and our glory gone ! 

When firft Britannia fent her hoftile crew 



^4 AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 

To thefe far fhores, to ravage and fubdue, 
We thought them gods, and almoft feem'd to fay 
No ball could pierce them, and no dagger flay — 
Heavens ! w^hat a blunder — half our fears v^^ere vain ; 
Thefe hoftile gods at length have quit the plain. 
On neighbouring ifles the ftorm of u^ar they fhun, 
Happy, thrice happy, if not quite undone. 

Yet foon, in dread of fome impending woe. 
Even from thofe ijlands shall thefe ruffians go — 
This be their doom, in vengeance for the flain. 
To pafs their days in poverty and pain ; 
For fuch bafe triumphs, be it ftill their lot 
To triumph only o'er the rebel Scot; 
And to their infeft ifle henceforth confin'd 
No longer lord it o'er the human kind. — 

But, by the fates, who ftill prolong their ftay, 
And gather vengeance to conclude their day, 
Yet, ere they go, the angry Mufe fliall tell 
The treafured woes that in her bofom fwell : 

Proud, fierce, and bold, O Jove ! who would not laugh 
To fee thefe bullies worfhipping a calf: 
But they 2iXQjlaves who fpurn at Reafon's rules ; 
And men, once flaves, are foon transform'd to fools. — 

To recommend what monarchies have donf^. 
They bring for witnefs David and his fon ; 
How one was brave, the other juft and wife, 
And hence our plain Repubfics they defpife.; 
But mark how oft, to gratify their pride. 
The people fuffer'd, and the people died : 



AMERICA INDEPENDEN' 



45 



Though one was wife, and one GoHah ilew, 
Kings are the choiceji curfe that man e^er knew ! 

Hail, worthy Britain ! — how enlarg'd your fame ; 
How great your glory, terrible your name, 
" Queen of the ifles, and emprefs of the main," 



Heaven grant you all thefe mighty things again j 
But first infure the gaping crowd below 
That you lefs cruel, and more juft may grow : 
If fate, vindi6tive for the fins of man. 
Had favour fhown to your infernal plan. 
How would your nation have exulted here. 
And fcorn'd the widow's figh, the orphan's tear ! 
How had your prince, of all bad men the worfi:, 
Laid worth and virtue proflirate in the dufl: ! 
A fecond Sawney^ had he fhone to-day, 
A world fubdued, and murder but his play. 
How had that prince, contemning right or law, 
Glutted with blood his foul, voracious maw : 
In him we fee the depths of bafenefs join'd, 
Whate'er difgrac'd the dregs of human kind ; 
Cain, Nimrod, Nero — fiends in human guife, 
Herod, Domitian — thefe in judgment rife. 
And, envious of his deeds, I hear them fay 
None but a George could be more vile than they. 

Swoln tho' he was with wealth, revenge, and pride. 
How could he dream that heaven was on his fide — 
Did he not fee, when fo decreed by fate, 

* Alexander the Great. — Author s note. 



46 AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 

They plac'd the crown upon his royal pate, 
Did he not fee the richeft jewel fall — * 
Dire was the omen, and aftonifh'd all — 

That gem no more fhall brighten and adorn j 
No more that gem by Britifh kings be worn, 
Or fwell to wonted heights of fair renown 
The fading glories of their boafted crown. 

Yet he to arms, and war, and blood inclined, 
(A fair-day warrior, with a feeble mind, 
Fearlefs, while others meet the (hock of fate. 
And dare that death, which clips his thread too . 
He to the fane (O hypocrite !) did go, 
While not an angel there, but was his foe, ^'l| 

There did he kneel, and figh, and fob, and pray. 
Yet not to lave his thoufand fms away. 
Far other motives fway'd his fpotted foul ; 
'Twas not for thofe the fecret forrow ftole 
Down his pale cheek — 'twas vengeance and defpair 
DifFolv'd his eye, and planted forrow there — 
How could he hope to bribe the impartial Iky 
By his bafe prayers, and mean hypocrify — 
Heaven flill is juft, and ftill abhors all crimes. 
Not 2.Sis like George, the Nero of our times — 
What were his prayers — his prayers could be no more 
Than a thief's wifhes to recruit his ftore ; 
Such prayers could never reach the worlds above -, 
They were but curfes in the ear of Jove ; — 

* A real event of that day. See the Remembeancek of 1777. — Autkor''s noti 



AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 47 

You pray'd that conqueft might your arms attend, 
And crufh that freedom virtue did defend, 
That the fierce Indian, roufing from his reft, 
Might thefe new regions with his flames inveft, 
With fcalps and tortures aggravate our woe, 
And to the infernal world difmifs your foe. 

No mines of gold our fertile country yields, 
But mighty harvefts crown the loaded fields, 
Hence, trading far, we gain'd the golden prize. 
Which, though our own, bewitch'd their greedy eyes — 
For that they ravag'd India's climes before. 
And carried death to Afia's utmoft ftiore — 
Clive was your envied Have, in avarice bold 
He mow'd down nations for his dearer gold ; 
The fatal gold could give no true content. 
He mourn'd his murders, and to Tophet went. 

Led on by luft of lucre and renown, 
Burgoyne came marching v/ith his thoufands down, 
High were his thoughts, and furious his career, 
PufF'd with felf-confidence and pride fevere, 
Swoln with the idea of his future deeds, 
Onward to ruin each advantage leads : 
Before his hofts his heavieft curfes flew, 
And conquer'd worlds rofe hourly to his view : 
His wrath, like Jove's, could bear with no controul, 
His words befpoke the mifchief in his foul \ 
To fight v/as not this General's only trade. 
He fhin'd in writing, and his wit difplay'd — • 
To awe the more with titles of command 



48 AMERICA INDEPENDENT, 

He told oi forts he ruVd in Scottlfh land ; — 

Queen's colonel as he was, he did not know 

That thorns and thijiles^ mix'd with honours, grow j 

In Britain's fenate tho' he held a place. 

All did not fave him from one long difgrace. 

One ftroke of fortune that convinc'd them all 

That we could conquer, and lieutenants fall. 

Foe to the rights of man, proud plunderer, fay 
Had conqueft crown'd you on that mighty day 
When you, to Gates, with forrow, rage, and fhame 
Refign'd your conquefts, honours, arms, and fame, 
When at his feet Britannia's wreathes you threw. 
And the fun ficken'd at a fight fo new ; H 

Had you been vi61:or — what a wafte of woe ! ' 

What fouls had vanifh'd to where fouls do go ! 
What dire diftress had mark'd your fatal way, ; 

What deaths on deaths difgrac'd that difmal day ! 

Can laurels flourifh in a foil of blood. 
Or on thofe laurels can fair honours bud — 
Curs'd be that wretch who murder makes his trade. 
Curs'd be all wars that e'er ambition made ! 

What murdering Tory now relieves your grief. 
Or plans new conquefts for his favourite chief; 
Defigns ftill dark employ that ruffian race, 
Beafts of your choofmg, and our own difgrace. 
So vile a crew the world ne'er faw before. 
And grant, ye pitying heavens, it may no more : 
If ghofts from hell infeft our poifon'd air, 
Thofe ghofts have enter'd their bafe bodies here, 



AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 49 

Murder and blood is ftill their dear delight — 
Scream round their roofs, ye ravens of the night ! 
Whene'er they wed, may demons, and defpair, 
And grief and woe, and blackeft night be there ; 
Fiends leagu'd from hell the nuptial lamp difplay. 
Swift to perdition light them on their way, 
Round the wide world their devilifh fquadrons chafe, 
To find no realm, that grants one refting place. 

Far to the north, on Scotland's utmoft end 
An ifle there lies, the haunt of every fiend. 
No fhepherds there attend their bleating flocks 
But wither'd witches rove among the rocks ; 
Shrouded in ice, the blafted mountains jQiow 
Their cloven heads, to daunt the feas below ; 
The lamp of heaven in his diurnal race 
There fcarcely deigns to unveil his radiant face. 
Or if one day he circling treads the fky 
He views this ifland with an angry eye. 
Or ambient fogs their broad, moift wings expand, 
Damp his bright ray, and cloud the infernal land ; 
The blackening winds inceffant ftorms prolong, 
Dull as their night, and dreary as my fong ; 
When ftormy winds and gales refufe to blow. 
Then from the dark fky drives the unpitying fnow ; 
When drifting fnows from iron clouds forbear. 
Then down the hailflones rattle through the air — 
There fcreeching owls, and fcreaming vultures reft 
And not a tree adorns its barren breafl ; 
No peace, no refl, the elements beflow, 
4 



50 AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 

But feas forever rage, and ftorms forever blow. 

There, Loyals, there ; with loyal hearts retire 
There pitch your tents, and kindle there your fire ; 
There defert Nature will her flings difplay, 
And fierceft hunger on your vitals prey, 
And with yourfelves let Joh?i Burgoyne retire 
To reign the monarch, whom your hearts admire. 

Britain, at laft to arreft your lawlefs hand, 
Rifes the genius of a generous land, 
Our injur'd rights bright Gallia's prince defends, 
And from this hour that prince and we are friends, 
Feuds, long up-held, are vanifh'd from our view. 
Once we were foes — but for the fake of you — 
Britain, afpiring Britain, now muft bend — 
Can fhe at once with France and us contend. 
When we alone, remote from foreign aid. 
Her armies captur'd, and diftrefs'd her trade — 
Britain arid we no more in combat join. 
No more, as once, in every fea combine j 
Dead is that friendfliip which did mutual burn, 
Fled is the fceptre, never to return ; 
By fea and land, perpetual foes we meet. 
Our caufe more honefl, and our hearts as great j 
Loft are thefe regions to Britannia's reign. 
Nor (hall thefe ftrangers of their lofs complain, 
Since all, that here with greedy eyes they view, 
From our own toil, to wealth and empire grew : 

Our hearts are ravifti'd from our former queen 
Far as the ocean God hath plac'd between, 



AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 5I 

They ftrive in vain to join this mighty mafs, 
Torn by convulfions from its native place 
As well might men to flaming Hecla join 
The huge high Alps or towering Appennine ; 
In vain they fend their half-commiffioned tribe 
And whom they cannot conquer ftrive to bribe ; 
Their pride and madnefs burft our union chain. 
Nor fhall the unwieldy mafs unite again. 

Nor think that France fuftains our caufe alone j 
With gratitude her helping hand we own. 
But hear, ye nations — Truth herfelf can fay 
We bore the heat and danger of the day : 
She calmly view'd the tumult from afar, 
We brav'd each infult, and fuftain'd the war : 
Oft drove the foe, or forc'd their hofts to yield, 
Or left them, more than once, a dear bought field — 
'Twas then, at laft on Jerfey plains diftreft, 
We fwore to feek the mountains of the weft. 
There a free empire for our feed obtain, 
A terror to the flaves that might remain.'^ 

* "In this dark day of peril to the caufe and to himfelf (at the clofe of 1776) 
Wafhington remained firm and undaunted. In cafting about for fome ftronghold 
where he might make a defperate ftand for the liberties of his country, his 
thoughts reverted to the mountain regions of his early campaigns. General 
Mercer was at hand, who had fhared his perils among thofe mountains, and his 
prefence may have contributed to bring them to his mind. * What think you,' 
faid Wafhington, ' if we fliould retreat to the back parts of Pennfylvania, would 
the Pennfylvanians fupport us ?' ' If the lower counties give up, the back coun- 
ties will do the fame,' was the difcouraging reply. ' We muft then retire to 
Augufta County, in Virginia,' faid Wafhington. * Numbers will repair to us for 
fafety, and we will try a predatory war. If overpowered, we muft crofs the Alle- 
ghanies.* Such was the indomitable fpirit, rifmg under difficulties and buoyant 



52 AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 

Peace you demand, and vainly wifh to find 
Old leagues renew'd,and ftrength once more combin'd — 
Yet {hall not all your bafe diflembling art 
Deceive the tortures of a bleeding heart — 
Yet fhall not all your mingled prayers that rile, 
Wafh out your crimes, or bribe the avenging fkies ; 
Full many a corpfe lies mouldering on the plain 
That ne'er fhall fee its little brood again : 
See, yonder Hes, all breathlefs, cold, and pale, 
Drench'd in her gore, Lavinia of the vale ; 
The cruel Indian feiz'd her life away, 
As the next morn began her bridal day ! — 
This deed alone our juft revenge would claim, 
Did not ten thoufand more your fons defame.* 

Return'd, a captive, to my native fhore. 
How chang'd I find thofe fcenes that pleas'd before ! 
How chang'd thofe groves where fancy lov'd to ftray, 
When fpring's young bloflbms bloom'd along the way : 
From every eye diftils the frequent tear. 
From everv mouth fome doleful tale I hear ! 
Some mourn a father, brother, hufband, friend : 
Some mourn, imprifon'd in their native land, 

in the darkeft moment, that kept our tempeft-toft caufe from foundering." — 
Irving's Life of Wajhingtony II., p. 448. 

* An allufion to Mifs Jane McGrea, whofe murder by a party of Burgoyne's 
Indians, in the vicinity of Fort Edward, was one of the tragic incidents of the 
war, which, with the feeling of horror it created, called forth alfo much roman- 
tic fympathy. Barlow has a poetic verfion of " Lucinda's Fate" in the fixth 
book of the Columbiad. Wafhington Irving has told the ftory in his fimple, 
efFeftive way, with fome circumftances derived from a niece of Mifs McCrea, in 
the third volume of his "Life of Wafhington." 



AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 53 

In fickly fhips what numerous hofts confin'd 

At once their lives and Hberties relign'd : 

In dreary dungeons woeful fcenes have pafs'd, 

Long in the hiftorian's page the tale will laft, 

As long as fpring renews the flowery wood, 

As long as breezes curl the yielding flood : — 

Some fent to India's fickly climes, afar. 

To dig, with flaves, for buried diamonds there, 

There left to ficken in a land of woe 

Where o'er fcorch'd hills infernal breezes blow, 

Whofe every blaft fome dire contagion brings, 

Fevers or death on its deftrucStive wings, 

'Till fate relenting, its laft arrows drew,. 

Brought death to them, and infamy to you. 

Pefts of mankind ! remembrance fhall recall 
And paint thefe horrors to the view of all ; 
Heaven has not turn'd to its own works a foe 
Nor left to monfters thefe fair realms below, 
Elfe had your arms more wafteful vengeance fpread, 
And thefe gay plains been dy'd a deeper red. 

O'er Britain's ifle a thoufand woes impend, 
Too weak to conquer, govern, or defend. 
To liberty fhe holds pretended claim — 
The fubftance we enjoy, and they the name ; 
Her prince, furrounded by a hoft of flaves. 
Still claims dominion o'er the vagrant waves : 
Such be his claims o'er all the world befide, — 
An empty nothing — madnefs, rage, and pride. 

From Europe's realms fair freedom has retir'd. 



54 AMERICA INDEPENDENT. 

And even in Britain has the fpark expir'd — 
Sigh for the change your haughty empire feels, 
Sigh for the doom that no difguife conceals ! 
Freedom no more ftiall Albion's cliffs survey ; 
Corruption there has centred all her fway, 
Freedom difdains her honeft head to rear, 
Or herd with nobles, kings, or princes there ; 
She fhuns their gilded fpires, and domes of ftatc, 
Refolv'd, O Virtue, at thy {hrine to vi^ait ; 
'Midft favage woods and wilds fhe dares to ftray, 
And bids uncultur'd nature bloom more gay. 

She is that glorious and immortal fun, 
Without whofe ray this world would be undone, 
A mere dull chaos, funk in deepeft night. 
An abje6l fomething, void of form and light, 
Of reptiles, worft in rank, the dire abode. 
Perpetual mifchief, and the dragon's brood. 

Let Turks and Ruffians glut their fields with blood, 
Again let Britain dye the Atlantic flood. 
Let all the eaft adore the fanguine wreathe 
And gain new glories from the trade of death — 
America ! the works of peace be thine. 
Thus {halt thou gain a triumph more divine — 
To thee belongs a fecond golden reign. 
Thine is the empire o'er a peaceful main ; 
Proteft the rights of human kind below, 
Crufli the proud tyrant who becomes their foe, 
And future times fhall own our ftruggles bleft, 
And future years enjoy perpetual reft. 



AMEPvICA INDEPENDENT. 55 

Americans ! revenge your country's wrongs ; 
To you the honour of this deed belongs, 
Your arms did once this finking land fuftain, 
And fav'd thofe climes where Freedom yet muft reign — 
Your bleeding foil this ardent tafk demands, 
Expei yon' thieves from thefe polluted lands, 
Expe6t no peace till haughty Britain yields, 
'Till humbled Britons quit your ravag'd fields — 
Still to the charge that routed foe returns. 
The war ftill rages, and the battle burns — 
No dull debates, or tedious counfels know, 
But rufh, at once, embodied, on your foe ; — 
With hell-born fpite a feven years war they wage, 
The pirate Goodrich^ and the ruffian Gage. 
Your injur'd country groans while yet they ftay. 
Attend her groans, and force their hofts away ; 
Your mighty wrongs the tragic mufe fhall trace, 
Your gallant deeds fhall fire a future race ; 
To you may kings and potentates appeal. 
You may the doom of jarring nations feal ; 
A glorious empire rifes, bright and new ! 
Firm be its bafis, and muft reft on you — 
Fame o'er the mighty pile expands her wings. 
Remote from princes, bifhops, lords, and kings, 
Thofe fancied gods, who, fam'd through every fhore, 

Mankind have fafhion'd, and, like fools, adore. 

Here yet fhall heaven the joys of peace beftow. 
While thro' our foil the ftreams of plenty flow. 
And o'er the main we fpread the trading fail, 
Wafting the produce of the rural vale. 



ON THE NEW AMERICAN FRIGATE 

ALLIANCE.* 

A S Neptune trac'd the azure main, 

That own'd (o late proud Britain's reign, 
A floating pile approach'd his car. 
The fcene of terror, and of war. 

* The "Alliance" was built at Salifbury, Maflachufetts, and launched about 
the time of the Treaty with France, in 1778, a circumftance from which her 
name was derived. *' She was," says Cooper, " the favourite ihip of the Ameri- 
can Navy, and, it might be added, of the American nation, during the war of the 
Revolution ; filling fome fuch fpace in the public mind, as has fince been occu- 
pied by her more celebrated fucceflbr, the Conftitution, She was a beautiful and 
an exceedingly faft fhip, but was rendered lefs efficient than fhe might otherwife 
have proved, by the miftake of placing her under the command of a French 
officer, who had entered the fervice with a view to pay a compliment to the new 
allies of the republic." This was Captain Landais, with whom Lafayette em- 
barked in the frigate on her firft voyage from Bofton to Breft, in January, 1779. 
She had a motley crew, including fome wrecked Britifh failors, volunteers from 
Britifli prifoners, and a few French feamen. The refult was a deeply laid plan 
for a mutiny at fea, which was revealed at the laft moment by an American 
failor on board, to whom it had been communicated. By the energy of the 
officers and paflengers the ringleaders were feized and the danger averted. The 
Alliance was fubfequently added by Dr. Franklin, in Paris> to the fquadron placed 
at the difpofal of Commodore Paul Jones, and, under the managemcni: i,t Iier 
captain, Landais, bore no creditable part in the memorable engagement with the 
Serapis. Captain Landais was fufpended for his conduft on this occafion, though 
he was allowed to return with the veffel to America in 1780. On the pafflige 
he was depofed from the command on the charge of infanity, and was, foon after 



THE ALLIANCE. 57 

As nearer ftill the monarch drew, 

(Her ftarry flag difplay'd to view) 

He afk'd a Triton of his train 

" What flag was this that rode the main — 

" A fhip of fuch a gallant mien 
" This many a day I have not feen, 
" To no mean power can fhe belong, 
" So fwift, fo warlike, ftout, and ftrong. 

" See how fhe mounts the foaming wave — 
" Where other fhips would find a grave, 
" Majeftic, aweful, and ferene, 
" She walks the ocean, like its queen." — 

" Great monarch of the hoary deep, 

" Whofe trident awes the waves to fleep, 

(Reply'd a Triton of his train) 

" This fhip, that flems the weflern main, 

" To thofe new, rifing States belongs, 
" Who, in refentment of their wrongs, 

landing, difcharged from the Navy. The Alliance, on this voyage, brou^^ht a 
large quantity of arms and ammunition for the United States. Captain John 
Barry fucceeded Landais in command of the Alliance. He carried Colonel Lau- 
rens in her to France early in 1781, and, in a fubfequent cruife that year, victo- 
rioufly encountered on the Atlantic the Britifh vefTels Atalanta and TrepafTy. In 
the following year, Barry gained other laurels in command of the Alliance in the 
Weft Indies. After the peace this renowned frigate was fold, and converted into 
an Indiaman. "Her wreck," fays Cooper, in 1839, "ftill lies on the ifland op- 
pofite to Philadelphia." 



.!!, 



58 THE ALLIANCE. 

" Oppofe proud Britain's tyrant fway, 
" And combat her, by land and fea. 

" This pile, of fuch fuperior fame, 
" From their ftri6i: union takes her name, 
" For them fhe cleaves the briny tide, 
" While terror marches by her fide. 

' " When fhe unfurls her flowing fails, 
" Undaunted by the fierceft gales, 
" In dreadful pomp, fhe ploughs the main, 
" While adverfe tempefts rage in vain. 

" When fhe difplays her gloomy tier^ 
" The boldeft Britons freeze with fear, 
" And, owning her fuperior might, 
" Seek their befl fafety in their flight. 

" But, when fhe pours the dreadful blaze, 
" And thunder from her cannon plays, 
" The burfling flafh that wings the ball, 
" Compells thofe foes to Jirike^ or fall. 

" Though fhe, with her triumphant crew, 
" Might to their fate all foes purfue, 
" Yet, faithful to the land that bore, 
" She flays, to guard her native fhore. 

" Though fhe might make the cruifers groan 
' That fail beneath the torrid zone. 



THE ALLIANCE. 59 

" She kindly lends a nearer aid, 

" Annoys them here, and guards the trade. 

" Now, traverfing the eaftern main, 

" She greets the fhores of France and Spain ; 

" Her gallant flag, difplay'd to view, 

" Invites the old world to the new. 

"This taft achiev'd, behold her go 

" To feas congeal'd with ice and fnow, 

" To either tropic, and the line^ 

" Where funs with endlefs fervour fhine. 

" Not, Argo, in thy womb was found 
" Such hearts of brafs, as here abound ; 
" They for their golden fleece did fly, 
" Thefe fail — to vanquifh tyranny." 



ON THE DEATH OF 

CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE, 

Commander of the Randolph Frigate^ blown up near Barbadoes* 

T^THAT diftant thunders rend the fkies, 

What clouds of fmoke in columns rife, 

What means this dreadful roar ! 
Is from his bafe Vefuvius thrown, 
Is fky-topt Jtlas tumbled down, 

Or Etna's felf no more ! 



* Nicholas Biddle, defcended from an old colonial family of Weft Jerfey, was 
born in Philadelphia, in 1 750. He had been a feaman from his boyhood, and, 
at one time, was rated as midfhipman on board a Britifh floop-of-war. " It is a 
Angular fact," fays Cooper, in his Naval Hiftory, " in the life of this remark- 
able young man, that he entered on board one of the veffels fent towards the 
north pole, under the Honourable Captain Phipps, where he found Nelfon, a 
volunteer like himfelf. Both were made cockfwains by the Commodore." This 
was in 1773; ^^° years later, young Biddle, forefeeing the troubles at hand in 
his native country, returned to America, took part in the ftruggle of the colonies, 
and was early employed in the fervice of Congrefs. He was employed on the 
eaftern coaft, and when the Randolph, 32, was launched at Philadelphia, in 1776, 
he was made her commander. He failed in her on her firft cruife early the next 
year, put into Charlefton, and, failing again out of that port, captured four Ja- 
maica-men, with which he returned to the city. There he was detained for fome 
months by the enemy's blockade. The South Carolinians, " pleafed with his 



CAPTAIN NICHOLAS EIDDLE. 6^ 

Shock after fhock torments my ear ; 
And lo ! two hoftiie ftiips appear. 

Red lightnings round them glow : 
The Yarmouth boafts of fixty-four, 
The Randolph thirty-two — no more — 

And will flie fight this foe ! 

zeal and deportment,*' fitted out for him four fmall veflels, which he took out 
with the Randolph oTi a cruife, in the enfuing fpring o-f 1778. On the 7th of 
March he encountered, to the eaftward of Barbadoes, the Britifh fhip Yarmouth, 
64, Captain Vincent. An aftion was fought at clofe quarters, which was main- 
tained with vigour for twenty minutes, when the Randolph blew up. " The two 
fhips were fo near at the time," fays Cooper, in his narrative of the affair, derived 
from a publifhed letter of Captain Vincent, " that many fragments of the v/reck 
ftruck the Yarmouth ; and, among other things, an American enfign, rolled up, 
was blown in upon her forecaftle. This flag was not even finged." The Yar- 
mouth, after this, left the fpot, and gave chafe to two of the veffels in Captain 
Riddle's company. Returning feveral days after to the place, Captain Biddle 
picked up four men furviving of the crew of the Randolph, who had faved 
themfelves on a fragment of the wreck. " In the adlion with the Yarmouth," 
fays Cooper, " Captain Biddle was feverely wounded in the thigh, and he is faid 
to have been feated in a chair, with the furgeon examining his hurt, when his 
fhip blew up. His death occurred at the early age of twenty-feven, and he died 
unmarried, though engaged at the time to a lady in Charlefton. His lofs was 
greatly regretted in the midft of the excitement and viciffitudes of a revolution, 
and can fcarcely be appreciated by thofe who do not underftand the influence 
that fuch a charadler can produce on a fmall and infant fervice." 

Freneau, with patriotic or poetic licenfe, reprefents his hero falling at the point 
of vidlory — an affumption hardly jufl:ified in face of the fuperiority of the enemy, 
and Captain Vincent's report of but five men killed and twelve wounded in the 
engagement. Captain Biddle, however, undoubtedly adled with great gallantry 
ill iteadily working his fhip in fuch an unequal contefl:; and although, in the words 
or" Cooper, " vidlory was almoft hopelefs, even had all his veflels behaved evqually 
v/.'^ll with his own fliip, we find it difficult, under the circumfl:ances, to fuppole 
that this gallant feaman did not aftually contemplate carrying his powerful nn- 
tagonift, moft probably by boarding." 

A memoir of Captain Biddle, with a portrait, will be found in The Fort Folio 
for October, 1809. 



62 CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE. 

The Randolph foon on Stygian ftreams 
Shall coaft along the land of dreams, 

The iflands of the dead ! 
But fate, that parts them on the deep. 
Shall fave the Briton yet to weep 

His days of vi6tory fled."^ 

Say, who commands that difmal blaze. 
Where yonder flarry ftreamer plays ; 

Does Mars with "Jove engage ! ' 

'Tis Biddle wings thofe angry fires, 
Biddle, whofe bofom ^ove infpires 

With more than mortal rage. 

Tremendous flafh ! — and hark, the ball 
Drives through old Yarmouth, flames and all : 

Her braveft fons expire ; 
Did Mars himfelf approach fo nigh. 
Even Mars, without difgrace, might fly 

The Randolph's fiercer fire. 

The Briton views his mangled crew, 
" And fhall we ftrike to thirty-two 

(Said He6lor, ftain'd with gore) 
" Shall Britain's flag to thefe defcend — i 



* We give this ftanza as it appears in the author's third edition of 1809. It 
is entirely omitted in the fecond edition of 1795. In the firft, of 1786, the con- 
cluding lines read : — 

Shall fave the Briton, ftill to weep 
His ancient honours fled. 



CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE. 

" Rife, and the glorious conflicSl end, 
" Britons, I afk no more !" 

He fpoke — they charg'd their cannon round, 
Again the vaulted heavens refound, 

The Randolph bore it all, 
Then fix'd her pointed cannons true — 
Away the unwieldy vengeance flew ; 

Britain, thy warriors fall. 

The Yarmouth faw, with dire difmay, 
Her wounded hull, fhrouds fhot away. 

Her boideft heroes dead — 
She faw amidfl her floating flain 
The conquering Randolph ftem the main — 

She faw, fhe turn'd — and fled ! 

That hour, bleft chief, had fhe been thine. 
Dear Biddle^ had the powers divine 

Been kind as thou wert brave ; 
But fate, who doom'd thee to expire, 
Prepar'd an arrow, tipt with fire. 

And mark'd a wat'ry grave. 

And In that hour, when conqueft came, 
Wing'd at his fhip a pointed flame, 

That not even he could fhun — 
The battle ceas'd, the Yarmouth fled, 



^3 



64 CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE. 

The burfting Randolph ruin fpread, 
And left her talk undone.* 



* As publifhed in the edition of 1786, the laft three lines of this ftanza read : — 

The conqueft ceas'd, the Yarmouth fled, 
The burfting Randolph ruin fpread, 
And loft what honour won. 

In the edition of 1795, *' honour," in the laft line, is changed to "courage." 
We print the ftanza from the author's revifed edition of 1809. The date of the 
adlion is erroneoufly given, 1776, in the title of the poem in the edition of 1786 
(reprinted in England in 18 61), and in the Philadelphia edition of 1809. 



GEORGE THE THIRD'S SOLILOQUY. 

V\/'HAT mean thefe dreams, and hideous forms that rife 

Night after night, tormenting to my eyes — 
No real foes thefe horrid fhapes can be, 
But thrice as much they vex and torture me. 

How curs'd is he, — how doubly cursM am I — 
Who hves in pain, and yet who dares not die ; 
To him no joy this world of Nature brings. 
In vain the wild rofe blooms, the daify fprings. 
Is this a prelude to fome new difgrace. 
Some baleful omen to my name and race ! — 
It may be fo — ere mighty Cefar died, 
Prefaging Nature felt his doom, and ligh'd ; 
A bellowing voice through midnight groves was heard. 
And threatening ghofts at dufk of eve appear'd — 
Ere Brutus fell, to adverfe fates a prey. 
His evil genius met him on the way. 
And fo may mine ! — but who would yield fo foon 
A prize, fome luckier hour may make my own ?— 
Shame feize my crown, ere fuch a deed be mine— ^ 
No — to the laft my fquadrons fhall combine. 
And flay my foes, while foes remain to flay. 
Or heaven fhall grant me one fuccefsful day. 
5 



66 



GEORGE THE THIRD S SOLILOQUY. 

Is there a robber clofe In Newgate hemm'd. 
Is there a cut-throat, fetter'd and condemn'd r 
Hafte, loyal ilaves, to George's ftandard come, 
Attend his lectures when you hear the drum ; 
Your chains I break — for better days prepare. 
Come out, my friends, from prifon and from care. 
Far to the weft I plan your defperate fway. 
There 'tis no fm to ravage, burn, and flay ; 
There, without fear, your bloody aims purfue. 
And fhow mankind what Englifh thieves can do. 

That day, when firft I mounted to the throne, 
I fwore to let all foreign foes alone. 
Through love of peace to terms did I advance, 
And made, they fay, a fhameful league with France. 
But different fcenes rife horrid to my view, 
I charg'd my hofts to plunder and fubdue — 
At firft, indeed, I thought fliort wars to wage, 
And fent fome jail-birds to be led by Gage^ 
For 'twas but right, that thofe we mark'd for flaves 
Should be reduc'd by cowards, fools, and knaves : 
Awhile, directed by his feeble hand, 
Thofe troops were kick'd and pelted through the land, 
Or ftarv'd in Bofton, curs'd the unlucky hour 
They left their dungeons for that fatal fhore. 

France aids them now, a defperate game I play, 
And hoftile Spain will do the fame, they fay ; 
My armies vanquifti'd, and my heroes fled. 
My people murmuring, and my commerce dead, 
My ftiatter'd navy pelted, bruis'd, and clubb'd. 



GEORGE THE THIRD's SOLILOQUY. 67 

By Dutchmen bullied, and by Frenchmen drubb'd. 
My name abhorr'd, my nation in difgrace, 
How fhould I 3.8: in fuch a mournful cafe ! 
My hopes and joys are vanifti'd with my coin, 
My ruin'd army, and my loft Burgoyne ! 
What fliall I do — confefs my labours vain. 
Or whet my tufks, and to the charge again ! 
But where's my force — my choiceft troops are fled. 
Some thoufands crippled, and a myriad dead — 
If I were own'd the boldeft of mankind. 
And hell with all her flames infpir'd my mind. 
Could I at once with Spain and France contend. 

And fight the rebels, on the world's green end ? 

The pangs of parting I can ne'er endure. 
Yet part we muft, and part to meet no more ! 
Oh, blaft this Congrefs, blaft each upftart State, 
On whofe commands ten thoufand captains wait ; 
From various climes that dire AJfemhly came. 
True to their truft, as hoftile to my fame ; 
'Tis thefe, ah thefe, have ruin'd half my fway, 
Difgrac'd my arms, and led my flaves aftray — 
Curs'd be the day, when firft I faw the fun, 
Curs'd be the hour, when I thefe wars begun : 
The fiends of darknefs then poffefs'd my mind, 
And powers unfriendly to the human kind. 
To wafting grief, and fullen rage a prey. 
To Scotland's utmoft verge I'll take my way. 
There with eternal ftorms due concert keep, 
And while the billows rage, as fiercely weep — 



68 GEORGE THE THIRd's SOLILOQUY. 

Ye highland lads, my rugged fate bemoan, 
Affift me with one fympathizing groan ; 
For late I find the nations are my foes, 
I muft fubmit, and that with bloody nofe, 
Or, like our James, fly bafely from the ftate, 
Or fhare, what ftill is worfe — old Charles's fate. 

[I779-] 



A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 

[Suppofed to have^pafled about the time of the approach of the combined fleets 
of France and Spain to the Britifli coafts, Auguft, 1779.] 

^^OOD Charly Fox, your counfel I implore, 

Still George the third, but potent George no more. 
By North conducted to the brink of fate, 
I mourn my folly and my pride, too late : 
The promifes he made, when once we met 
In Kew's gay fhades, I never (hall forget ; 
That at my feet the weftern world fhould fall, 
And bow to me, the potent lord of all — 
Curfe on his hopes, his councils, and his fchemes. 
His plans of conqueft, and his golden dreams, 
Thefe have allured me to the jaws of hell ; 
By Satan tempted thus Ifcariot fell : 
Diverted of majeftic pomp, I come. 
My royal robes and airs I've left at home. 
Speak freely, friend, whatever you choofe to fay, 
Suppofe me equal with yourfelf to day : 
How fhall I fhun the mifchiefs that impend ? 
How fhall I make Columbia, yet, my friend ? 
I dread the power of each revolted State, 



70 A UIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 

The trembling Eaft hangs ballanc'd with their weight. 
How fhall I dare the rage of France and Spain, 
And loft dominion o'er the waves regain ? 
Advife me quick, for doubtful while we ftand, 
Deftruftion gathers o'er this wretched land : 
Thefc hoftile fquadrons, to my ruin led, 
Thefe gaUic thunders fill my foul with dread : 
If thefe fhould triumph — Britain thou muft fall. 
And bend, a province to the conquering Gaul : 
If this muft be — thou earth, expanding v/ide. 

Unlucky George in thy dark entrails hide 

Ye oceans, wrap me in your dark embrace — 

Ye mountains, fhroud me to your loweft bafe 

Fall on my head, ye everlafting rocks 

But why fo penfive, my good Charly Fox ? 

Fox. 

While in the arms of power and peace you lay, 

Ambition led your reftlefs foul aftray. 

Pofieft of lands, extending far and wide. 

And more than Rome could boaft in all her pride, 

Yet, not contented with that mighty ftore. 

Like fome bafe mifer, ftill you fought for more ; 

And, all in raptures for a tyrant's reign. 

You ftrove your fubje^ts' deareft rights to chain : 

Thofe ruffian hofts, beyond the ocean fent. 

By your command, on blood and murder bent. 

With cruel hand the form of man defac'd. 

And laid the toils of art and nature wafte. 



A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 7 1 

(For crimes like thefe Imperial Britain bends, 

For crimes like thefe her ancient glory ends.) 

Thofe lands, once trueft to your name and race. 

Which the wide ocean's utmoft waves embrace, 

Your juil prote6tion bafely you deny'd, 

Their towns you plunder'd, and you burnt befide. 

Virginia's flaves, without one blufh of fiiame, 

Againft their caufe you arm'd with fword and flame ; 

At every port your fhips of war you laid. 

And ftrove to ruin and diftrefs their trade, 

Yet here, ev'n here, your mighty projects fail'd j 

For then from creeks their hardy feamen fail'd, 

In flender barques they crofs'd a ftormy main. 

And traffick'd for the wealth of France and Spain ; 

O'er either tropic and the line they pafs'd. 

And, deeply laden, fafe return'd at laft : 

Nor think they yet had bow'd to Britain's fway. 

Though diftant nations had not join'd the fray, 

Alone they fought your armies and your fleet. 

And made your Clintons and your Howes retreat. 

And yet while France ftood doubting if to join. 

Your fhips they captur'd, and they took Burgoyne ! 

How vain is Britain's ftrength, her armies now 
Before Columbia's bolder veterans bow ; 
Her gallant veterans all our force defpife. 
Though late from ruin we beheld them rife ; 
Before their arms our ftrongefl: bulwarks fall ; 
They ftorm the rampart and they fcale the wall ; 
With equal dread, on either fervice fent. 



72 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 

They feize a fortrefs, or they ftrike a tent. 

But fhould we bow beneath a foreign yoke, 
And potent France atchieve the humbhng ftroke, 
Yet every power, and even ourfelves, muft fay, 
"Juft is the vengeance of the Ikies to-day :" 
For crimes Hke ours dire vengeance muft atone ; 
Forbear your fafts, and let the Gods alone — 
By cruel kings, in fierce Britannia bred. 
Such feas of blood have, firft and laft, been fhed. 
That now, diftreft for each inhuman deed. 
Our turn is come — our turn is come to bleed : 
Forbear your groans ; for war and death array, 
March to the foe, and give the fates their way. 
Can we behold without one dying groan. 
The fleets of France fuperior to our own ? 
Can we behold, without one poignant pang. 
The foreign conquefts of the brave D'Eftaing ? 
North is your friend, and now deftru6tion knocks, 
Still take his counfel, and regard not Fox. 

George. 

Ah ! fpeak not thus — your words will burft my heart, 
Some fofter counfel to my ears impart. 
How can I march to meet the infulting foe. 
Who never yet to hoftile plains did go ? 
When was I vers'd in battles or in blood ? 
When have I fought upon the faithlefs flood ? 
Much better could I at my palace door 
Recline, -^nd hear the diftant cannons roar. 



A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 

Generals and admirals Britain yet can boaft, 
Some fight on land, and fome defend the coalt ; 
The fame of thefe throughout the globe refounds, 
To thefe I leave the glory and the wounds ; 
But fince this honour for no blood atones, 
I muft and will — be careful of my bones. 

What pleafure to your monarch would it be, 
If Lords and Commons could at laft agree ; 
Could North with Fox in firm alliance {land. 
And Burke with Sandwich fhake the focial hand, 
Then ihould we bring the rebels to our feet. 
And France and Spain inglorioufly retreat, 
Her ancient glories to this ille return. 
And we no more for loft Columbia mourn. 

Fox. 

Alliance ! — what ! — my mafter muft be mad: 
Say, what alliance can with thefe be had ? 

Can lambs and wolves in focial bands ally ? 

When thefe prove friendly, then will North and L 
Alliance ! no — I curfe the abjeft thought j 
Ally with thofe their country's ruin fought ! 
Who to perdition fold their native land, 
Leagu'd with the foe, a clofe conne6ted band — 
Ally with thefe ! — I fpeak it to your face — 
Alliance here, is ruin and difgrace. 
Angels and devils in fuch bonds unite. 
So hell is allied to the realms of light — 
Let North or Sackville ftill my prayers deride, 



74 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 

Let turn-coat 'Johnflone take the courtly fide, 
Even P/V/, if living, might with thefe agree j 
But no alliance (hall they have with me. 

But fince no fhame forbids your tongue to ov/n 
A royal coward fills Britannia's throne ; 
Since our beft chiefs muft fight your mad campaigns^ 
And be difgrac'd, at laft, by him who reigns, 
No wonder, heaven ! fuch ill fuccefs attends ! 
No wonder North and Mansfield are your friends ! 
Take my advice, with them to battle go, 
Thefe book-learn'd heroes may confront the foe — 
Thofe firft who lead us tow'rds the brink of fate, 
Should ftill be foremoft, when at Pluto's gate ; 
Let them, grown defperate by our weight of woes, 
Collect new fury from this hoft of foes. 
And, ally'd with themfelves, to ruin fteer. 
The juft conclufion of their mad career. 

George. 

No comfort in thefe cruel words I find — 
Ungrateful words to my tormented mind ! 
With me alone, both France and Spain contend, 
And not one nation can be call'd my friend : 
Unpitying now the Dutchman fees me fall. 
The Ruffian leaves me to the thundering Gaul, 
The German, grown as carelefs as the Dane, 
Configns my carcafe to the jaws of Spain. 
Where are the hofts they promis'd me of yore. 
When rich and great they heard my thunders roar 



A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 75 

While yet confefs'd the mafter of the Tea, 
The Germans drain'd their wide domain for m,e, 
And, aiding Britain with a friendly hand, 
Help'd to fubdue the rebels and their land ? 
Ah ! rebels, rebels ! infolent and mad ; 

Our Scottifh rebels were not half fo bad 

They foon fubmitted to fuperior fway ; 

But thefe grow flronger as my hofts decay : 

What crowds have perifh'd on their hoftile fhore ! 

They went for conqueft, but return'd no more. 

Columbia, thou a friend in better times ! 

Loft are to me thy pleafurable climes : 

You wifh me buried in eternal night, 

You curfe the day when firft I faw the light — 

Your commerce vanifh'd, hoftile nations ftiare, 

And thus you leave us naked, poor, and bare ; 

Defpis'd by thofe who fhould our caufe defend. 

And helplefs left, without one pitying friend. 

Thefe dire afflictions ftiake my changeful throne. 

And turn my brain — a very idiot grown : 

Of all the ifles, the realms with which I part, 

Columbia fits the weightieft at my heart. 

She, ftie provokes the deepeft, heavieft figh, 

And makes me doubly wretched, ere I die. 

Some dreary convent's unfrequented gloom 
(Like Charles of Spain) had better be my doom ; 
There while in abfence from my crown I figh, 
George, Prince of Wales, thefe ills may redify ; 
A happier fortune may his crown av/ait, 



76 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 

He yet, perhaps, may fave this finking ftate : 
I'll to my prayers, my bifhops, and my beads. 
And beg God's pardon for my heinous deeds ; 
Thofe ftreams of blood, that fpilt by my command. 
Call out for vengeance on this guilty land. 

Fox. 

In one fliort fentence take my whole advice, 
(It is no time to flatter and be nice) 
With all your foul for inftant peace contend. 
Thus fhall you be your country's trueft friend — 
Peace, inftant peace, may ftay your tottering throne, 
But wars and death and blood can profit none. 
To Catharine fend, in humble garb array'd. 
And beg her interceffion, not her aid : 
Withdraw your armies from th' Americ' fhore. 
And vex her oceans with your fleets no more ; 
Vain are their conquefts, paft experience fhews. 
For what this hour they gain, the next they lofe. 
Implore the friendfhip of thofe injur'd States ; 
No longer ftrive againft the ftubborn fates. 
Since heaven has doom'd Coluinhia to be free. 
What is her commerce and her wealth to thee ? 
Since heav'n that land of promife has denied. 
Regain by cunning what you loft by pride : 
Immediate ruin each delay attends. 
Imperial Britain fcarce her coafts defends ; 
Hibernia fees the threat'nino- foes advance. 
And feels an ague at the thoughts of France ; 



A DIALOGUE BETWEEN GEORGE AND FOX. 77 

Jamaica mourns her half-prote6led ftate, 
Barbadoes foon may fhare Grenada's fate, 
And every ifle that owns your reign to-day, 
May bow to-morrow to the Frenchman's fway, 
Yes — while I fpeak, your empire, great before, 
Contra(£ts its Hmits, and is great no more. 
Unhappy prince ! what madnefs has polTeft, 
What worfe than madnefs feiz'd thy vengeful breaft. 
When white-rob'd peace before your portal ftood, 
To drive her hence, and ftain the world with blood ! 
For this deftru6tion threatens from the fides ; 
See hoftile navies to our ruin rife ; 
Our fleets inglorious fhun the force of Spain, 
And France, triumphant, ftems the fubject main. 
[Jnno, 1779.] 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP.* 

Amid thefe ills no tyrant dared refufe ^^H | 

My right to pen the diftates of the mufe, ^^B' 

To paint the terrors of the infernal place, ^^™ 
And fiends from Europe, infolent as bafe. 

. I 

Canto I. — The Capture. i 

A SSIST me, Clio ! while in verfe I tell ' 

The dire misfortunes that a fhip befell, 
Which outward bound, to St. Euftatia's fhore, 
Death and difafter through the billows bore. 

From Philadelphia's happy port flie came ; -• 

(And there the builder plann'd her lofty frame,) 
With wonderous fkill, and excellence of art 
He form'd, difpos'd, and order'd every part. 
With joy, beheld the ftately fabric rife 
To a ftout bulwark, of ftupendous fize, 
'Till launch'd at laft, capacious of the freight, 
He left her to the pilots, and her fate. ^ 

Firft, from her depths the tapering mafts afcend, | 

On whofe tall bulk the tranfverfe yards depend, 
By fhrouds and ftays fecur'd from fide to fide 

\ 

* Written towards the clofe of 1780, and firft publifhed by Mr. Francis Bai- ^ 

ley, Philadelphia, early in the year 178 1. vN 






THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 79 

Trees grew on trees, fufpended o'er the tide : 
Firm to the yards extended, broad and vaft, 
They hung the fails, fufceptive of the blaft, 
Far o'er the prow the lengthy bowfprit lay, 
Supporting on the extreme the taut fore-flay, 
Twice ten fix pounders, at their port holes plac'd, 
And rang'd in rows, ftood hoftile in the waift : 
Thus all prepar'd, impatient for the feas, 
She left her ftation with an adverfe breeze, 
This her firft outfet from her native fhore. 
To feas a ftranger, and untry'd before. 

From the fine radiance, that his glories fpread. 
Ere from the eafi: gay Phoebus lifts his head. 
From the bright morn, a kindred name (he won, 
Aurora call'd, the daughter of the fun, 
Whofe form, proje6ting, the broad prow difplays, 
Far glittering o'er the wave, a mimic blaze. 

The gay fhip now, in all her pomp and pride, 
With fails expanded, flew along the tide ; 
'Twas thy deep ftream, O Delaware, that bore 
This pile intended for a fouthern fhore. 
Bound to thofe illes where endlefs fummer reigns, 
Fair fruits, gay blofToms, and enamell'd plains ; 
Where floping lawns the roving fwain invite ; 
And the cool morn fucceeds the breezy night, 
Where each glad day a heaven unclouded brings 
And sky-topt mountains teem with golden fprings. 

From Cape Henlopen, urg'd by favouring gales, 
When morn emerg'd, we fea-ward fpread our fails, 



80 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

Then, eafl-fouth-eaft, explor'd the briny way, 
Clofe to the wind, departing from the bay ; 
No longer feen the hoarfe refounding ftrand. 
With hearts elate we hurried from the land, 
Efcap'd the dangers of that (helving ground 
To failors fatal, and for wrecks renown'd 

The gale increafes as we plough the main. 
Now fcarce the hills their fky-blue mift retain : 
At laft they fink beneath the rolling wave. 
That feems their fummits, as they fink, to lave. 
Abaft the beam the frefhening breezes play. 
No mifts advancing, to deform the day. 
No tempefts rifing o'er the fplendid fcene, 
A fea unruffled, and a heaven ferene. 

Now SoPs bright lamp, the heaven-born fource of light, 
Had pafs'd the line of his meridian height. 
And weftward hung— retreating from the view 
Shores difappear'd, and every hill withdrew. 
When, ftill fufpicious of fome neighbouring foe. 
Aloft the Mafter bade a feaman go. 
To mark if, from the maft's afpiring height. 
Through all the round, a veflel came in fight. 

Too foon the feaman's glance extending wide, 
Far diftant in the eaft a fhip efpy'd. 
Her lofty mafts flood bending to the gale, 
Clofe to the wind was brac'd each fhivering fail ; 
Next from the deck we faw the approaching foe, 
Her fpangled bottom feem'd in flames to glow 
When to the winds fhe bow'd in dreadful hafte 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 8l 

And her lee-guns lay deluged in the waill ; 

From her top-gallant wav'd an EngUJh Jack ; 

With all her might fhe ftrove to gain our tack, 
Nor ftrove in vain — with pride and power elate, 
Wing'd on by winds, fhe drove us to our fate. 
No ftop, no ftay her bloody crew intends, 
(So flies a comet with its hoft of fiends) 
Nor oaths, nor prayers arreft her fwift career. 
Death in her front, and ruin in her rear. 

Struck at the fight, the mafter gave command 
To change our courfe, and fteer toward the land — 
Straight to the tafk the ready failors run. 
And while the word was utter'd, half was done ; 
As, from the fouth, the fiercer breezes rife 
Swift from her foe alarm'd Aurora flies. 
With every fail extended to the wind 

She fled the unequal foe that chac'd behind. 

Along her decks, difpos'd in clofe array. 
Each at its port, the grim artillery lay. 
Soon on the foe with brazen throat to roar 5 
But, fmall their fize, and narrow was their bore ; 
Yet, faithful, they their deftin'd ftation keep 
To guard the barque that wafts them o'er the deep, 
Who now muft bend to fteer a homeward courfe 
And truft her fwiftnefs rather than her force. 
Unfit to combat with a powerful foe ; 
Her decks too open, and her waiji too low. 

While o'er the wave, with foaming prow, ftie flies, 
Once more emerging, diftant landfcapes rife ; 



82 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

High in the air xki^Jiarry ftreamer plays, 
And every fail its various tribute pays ; 
To gain the land, vi^e bore the weighty blaft ; 
And noysr the wifh'd for cape appear'd at laft ; 
But the vext foe, impatient of delay, 
Prepar'd for ruin, prefs'd upon his prey \ 
Near, and more near, in aw^eful grandeur came 
The frigate Iris, not unknown to fame ; 
Iris her name, but Hancock once fhe bore, 
Fram'd and completed on New Albion's fhore, 
By Manly loft, the fwifteft of the train 
That fly with wings of canvas o'er the main."^ 

Then, while for combat fome with zeal prepare. 
Thus to the heavens the Boatfwain fent his prayer : 
" Lift' all ye powers that rule the fkies and feas ! 
" Shower down perdition on fuch thieves as thefe, 
" Winds, daunt their hearts with terror and difmay, 
" And fprinkle on their powder fait fea fpray ! 
" May burfting cannon, while his aim he tries, 
" Diftraft the gunner, and confound his eyes — 
" The chief that awes the quarter-deck, may he 
" Tripp'd from his ftand, be tumbled in the fea. 
" May they who rule the round-top's giddy height 

* "The Iris had been the United States' fhip Hancock, 32, Captain Manly, 
and was captured by the Rainbow, 44, Sir George Collier. The Hancock, or 
Iris, proved to be one of the fafteft fhips on the American ftation, and made the 
fortunes of all who commanded her. Captain Manly is thought to have loft her 
in confequence of having put her out of trim, by ftarting her water while chafed. 
The fhip, in the end, fell into the hands of the French in the Weft Indies." — 
CooPEp's Na'val Hijlory. 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 83 

" Be canted headlong to perpetual night ; 

" May fiends torment them on a leeward coaft, 

" And help forfake them when they want it moft — 

" From their wheel'd engines torn be every gun — 

" And now, to fum up every curfe in one, 

" May latent flames, to fave us, intervene, 

"And hell-ward drive them from their magazine !" 

The Frigate, now, had every fail unfurl'd. 
And rufh'd tremendous o'er the watery world ; 
Thus fierce Pelides^ eager to deflroy, 
Chac'd the proud Trojan to the gates of Troy — 
Swift o'er the waves while, hoftile, they purfue, 
As fwiftly from their fangs Aurora flew, 
At length Henlopen's cape we gain'd once more, 
And vainly ftrove to force the fhip afhore ; 
Stern fate forbade the barren fhore to gain ; 
Denial fad, and fource of future pain ! 
For then the infpiring breezes ceas'd to blow. 
Loft were they all, and fmooth'd the feas below ; 
By the broad cape becalm'd, our lifelefs fails 
No longer fwell'd their bofoms to the gales ; 
The fhip, unable to purfue her way. 
Tumbling about, at her own guidance lay. 
No more the helm its wonted influence lends, 
No oars aflift us, and no breeze befriends ; 
Mean time the foe, advancing from the fea, 
Rang'd her black cannon, pointed on our lee^ 
Then up fhe luff^d^ and blaz'd her entrails dire, 
Bearing deftrudtion, terror, death, and fire. 



84 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

Vext at our fate, we prlm'd a piece, and then 
Return'd the fhot, to fhew them we were men. 

Dull night at length her dufky pinions fpread, 
And every hope to 'fcape the foe was fled, 
Clofe to thy cape, Henlopen, though we prefs'd. 
We could not gain thy defert, dreary breaft ; 
Though ruin'd trees befhroud thy barren fhore 
With mounds of fand half hid, or cover'd o'er. 
Though ruffian winds difturb thy fummit bare, 
• Yet every hope and every wifh was there : 
In vain we fought to reach the joylefs ftrand. 
Fate flood between, and barr'd us from the land. 

All dead becalm'd, and helplefs as we lay. 
The ebbing current forc'd us back to fea. 
While vengeful Iris, thirfting for our blood, 
Flafh'd her red lightnings o'er the trembling flood ; 
At every flafti a florm of ruin came 
'Till our fhock'd veflTel fhook through all her frame- 
Mad for revenge, our breafts with fury glow 
To wreak returns of vengeance on the foe ; 
Full at his hull our pointed guns we rais'd. 
His hull refounded as the cannon blaz'd ; 
Through his broad fails while fome a pafl^age tore, 
His fides re-echo'd to the dreadful roar. 
Alternate fires difpell'd the fhades of night — 
But how unequal was this daring fight ! 
Our ftouteft guns threw but a fix-pound ball^ 
Twelve pounders from the foe our fides did maul ; 
And, while no power to fave him intervenes, 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 85 

A bullet ftruck our captain of marines ; 

Fierce, though he bid defiance to the foe 

He felt his death and ruin in the blow, 

Headlong he fell, diftra(3:ed with the wound, 

The deck diftain'd, and heart blood ftreaming round. 

Another blaft, as fatal in its aim 
Wing'd by deftruilion, through our rigging came, 
And aim'd aloft, to cripple in the fray. 
Shrouds, flays, and braces tore at once away. 
Sails, blocks, and oars in fcatter'd fragments fly — 
Their fofteft language was — submit, or die. 

Repeated cries throughout the fhip refound ; 
Now every bullet brought a different wound ; 
Twixt wind and water ^ one affail'd the fide : 
Through this aperture rufh'd the briny tide — 
'Twas then the Mafter trembled for his crew, 
And bade thy fhores, O Delaware, adieu ! — 
And muft we yield to yon' deftru6live ball. 

And muft our colours to thefe ruffians fall ! 

They fall ! — his thunders forc'd our ftrength to bend, 
The lofty topfails, with their yards, defcend. 
And the proud foe, fuch .leagues of ocean pafs'd, 
His wifti completed in our woe at laft. 

ConveyM to York, we found, at length, too late, 
That Death was better than the prifoner's fate, 
There doom'd to famine, fhackles, and defpair, 
Condemn'd to breathe a foul, infected air 
In fickly hulks, devoted while we lay, 
Succeffive funerals gloom'd each difmal day 



86 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

But what on captives Britifli rage can do, 
Another Canto, friends, fhall let you know. 



Canto II.— The Pnfon- Ships, "^ 

The various horrors of thefe hulks to tell, 
Thefe Prifon Ships where pain and penance dwell, 
Where death in tenfold vengeance holds his reign. 
And injur'd ghofts, yet unaveng'd, complain ; 
This be my tafk — ungenerous Britons, you 
Confpire to murder whom you can't fubdue. — ** 

That Britain's rage fhould dye our plains with gore. 
And defolation fpread through every fhore. 

None e'er could doubt, that her ambition knew, 

This was to rage and difappointment due ; 

But that thofe legions whom our foil maintain'd. 

Who firft drew breath in this devoted land. 

Like famifh'd wolves, fhould on their country prey, 

* Thefe prifon-fhips were moftly old tranfport veflels, in which the Britifh 
troops had been brought to the city. They were moored, at firft, off the Battery, 
and afterwards in the Wallabout Bay, on the Long Ifland fhore. One of thefe 
fhips, the Jerfey, was an old, condemned' 64-gun fhip, which had been employed 
as a ftore-fhip. "In 1780," as we learn from Mifs Booth's ' Hiftory of the City 
of New York,' "when the prifoners on board the Good Hope [another of thefe 
ihips] burnt the vefTel, in the defperate hope of regaining their liberty, the chief 
incendiaries were removed to the Provoft, and the remainder transferred to the 
Jerfey, which was thenceforth ufed as a prifon-fhip until the clofe of the war, 
when her inmates were liberated, and fhe was henceforth fliunned by all as a neft 
of peftilence. The worms foon after deftroyed her bottom, and fhe fank, bear- 
ing with her, on her planks, the names of thoufands of American prifoners. For 
more than twenty years, her ribs lay expofed at low water 5 fhe now lies buried 
beneath the United States Navy Yard." 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 8/ 

Affilt its foes, and wreft our lives away, 
This fhocks belief — and bids our foil difown 
Such knaves, fubfervient to a bankrupt throne. 
By them the v^^idow mourns her partner dead. 
Her mangled fons to darkfome prifons led. 
By them — and hence my keeneft forrows rife. 

My friend — companion — my Orejies dies 

Still for that lofs muft wretched I complain. 
And fad Ophelia mourn her lofs — in vain ! 

Ah ! come the day when from this bleeding fhore 
Fate fhall remove them, to return no more — 
To fcorch'd Bahama fhall the traitors go 
With grief, and rage, and unremitting woe. 
On burning fands to walk their painful round. 
And figh through all the folitary ground. 
Where no gay flower their haggard eyes fhall fee, 
And find no fhade — but from the cyprefs tree. 

So much we fufFer'd from the tribe I hate. 
So near they fhov'd us to the brink of fate, 
When two long months in thefe dark hulks we lay 
Barr'd down by night, and fainting all the day 
In the fierce fervours of the folar beam, 
Cool'd by no breeze on Hudfon's mountain-flream ; 
That not unfung thefe threefcore days fhall fall 
To black oblivion that would cover all ! 

No mafts or fails thefe crowded fhips adorn, 
Difmal to view, negle6led and forlorn ; 
Here, mighty ills opprefs'd the imprifon'd throng. 
Dull were our flumbers, and our nights were long 



88 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

From morn to eve along the decks we lay 
Scorch'd into fevers by the folar ray ; 
No friendly awning caft a welcome fhade, 
Once was it promis'd, and was never made ; 
No favours could thefe fons of death beftow, 
'Twas endlefs vengeance, and unceafmg woe : 
Immortal hatred does their breafts engage, 
And this loft empire fwells their fouls with rage. 

Two hulks on Hudfon's ftormy bofom lie. 

Two, on the eaft, alarm the pitying eye 

There, the black Scorpion at her mooring rides, 
There, Strombolo fwings, yielding to the tides ; 
Here, bulky Jersey fills a larger fpace. 
And Hunter, to all hofpitals disgrace 

Thou, Scorpion, fatal to thy crowded throng, 
Dire theme of horror and Plutonian fong, 
Requir'ft my lay — thy fultry decks I know. 
And all the torments that exift below ! 
The briny wave that Hudfon's bofom fills 
Drain'd through her bottom in a thoufand rills : 
Rotten and old, replete with fighs and groans. 
Scarce on the waters fhe fuftain'd her bones ; 
Here, doom'd to toil, or founder in the tide. 
At the moift pumps inceflantly we ply'd. 
Here, doom'd to ftarve, like famifh'd dogs, we tore 
The fcant allowance, that our tyrants bore. 

Remembrance fhudders at this fcene of fears — 
Still in my view fome tyrant chief appears. 
Some bafe-born Heffian flave walks threatening by, 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 89 

Some fervile Scot, with murder in his eye, 
Still haunts my fight, as vainly they bemoan 
Rebellions manag'd fo unlike their own I 
O may we never feel the poignant pain 
To live fubjedied to fuch fiends again, 
Stewards and Mates^ that hoftile Britain bore, 
Cut from the gallows on their native fhore ; 
Their ghaftly looks and vengeance-beaming eyes 

Still to my view in difmal vifions rife 

O may I ne'er review thefe dire abodes, 

Thefe piles for flaughter, floating on the floods, 

And you, that o'er the troubled ocean go. 

Strike not your ftandards to this venom'd foe, 

Better the greedy wave fhould fwallow all, 

Better to meet the death-condu6ling ball. 

Better to fleep on ocean's oozy bed. 

At once deftroy'd and number'd with the dead, 

Than thus to perifti in the face of day 

Where twice ten thoufand deaths one death delay. 

When to the ocean finks the weftern fun. 
And the fcorch'd Tories fire their evening gun, 
" Down, rebels, down !" the angry Scotchmen cry, 
" Bafe dogs, defcend, or by our broad fwords die !" 

Hail dark abode ! what can with thee compare 

Heat, ficknefs, famine, death, and ftagnant air 

Pandora's box, from whence all mifchiefs flew, 

Here real found, torments mankind anew ! 

Swift from the guarded decks we rufh'd along. 
And vainly fought repofe, fo vaft our throng j 



90 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

Four hundred wretches here, denied all light, 
In crowded manfions pafs the infernal night. 
Some for a bed their tatter'd veftments join. 
And fome on chefts, and fome on floors recline ; 
Shut from the bleilings of the evening air 
Penfive we lay with mingled corpfes there, 
Meagre and wan, and fcorch'd with heat, below. 
We look'd like ghofts, ere death had made us fo — 
How could we elfe, where heat and hunger join'd. 

Thus to debafe the body and the mind, 

Where cruel thirft the parching throat invades, 
Dries up the man, and fits him for the ihades. 

No waters laded from the bubbling fpring 
To thefe dire (hips thefe little tyrants bring 



By plank and ponderous beams completely wall'd 

In vain for water and in vain we call'd 

No drop was granted to the midnight prayer, 

To rebels in thefe regions of defpair ! 

The loathfome cafk a deadly dofe contains. 

Its poifon circling through the languid veins ; 

" Here, generous Briton, generous, as you fay, 

" To my parch'd tongue one cooling drop convey, 

" Hell has no mifchief hke a thirfty throat, 

" Nor one tormentor like your David Sproat.'" * 

Dull pafs'd the hours, till, from the Eaft difplayed, 
Sweet morn difpell'd the horrors of the fhade ; 
On every fide dire obje6ls met the fight. 
And pallid forms, and murders of the night, 

* A Britiih fuperintendent of the prifon-fhips. 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 9 1 

The dead were paft their pain, the living groan, 
Nor dare to hope another morn their own ; 
But what to them is morn's delightful ray ? 
Sad and diftrefsful as the clofe of day ; 
O'er diftant ftreams appears the dewy green. 
And leafy trees on mountain tops are feen. 
But they no groves nor grafly mountains tread, 
Mark'd for a longer journey to the dead. 

Black as the clouds, that fhade St. Kilda's fhore. 
Wild as the winds, that round her mountains roar, 
At every poft fome furly vagrant ftands, 
CuU'd from the Englifh or the Heflian* bands, — 
Difpenfmg death triumphantly they ftand. 
Their mufquets ready to obey command ; 
Wounds are their fport, as ruin is their aim ; 
On their dark fouls compailion has no claim. 
And difcord only can their fpirits pleafe : 
Such were our tyrants here, and fuch were thefe. 

Ingratitude ! no curfe like thee is found 
Throughout this jarring world's tumultuous round, 
Their hearts with malice to our country fwell 
Becaufe, in former days, we us'd them well ! — 
This pierces deep, too deeply wounds the breaft ; 
We help'd them naked, friendlefs, and diftreft, 
Receiv'd them, vagrants, with an open hand ; 
Beftow'd them buildings, privilege, and land — 
Behold the change ! — when angry Britain rofe, 
Thefe thanklefs tribes became our fierceft foes, 

* Scottish, in the edition of 1795. 



92 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

By them devoted, plunder'd, and accurft, 

Stung by the ferpents, whom ourfelves had nurs'd. 

But fuch a train of endlefs woes abound, 
So many mifchiefs in thefe hulks are found, 
That on them all a poem to prolong 
Would fwell too far the horrors of our fong — 
Hunger and thirft, to work our woe, combine, 
And mouldy bread, and flefli of rotten fwine : 
The mangled carcafe, and the batter'd brain. 
The dodor's poifon, and the captain's cane. 
The foldier's mufquet, and the fteward's debt. 
The evening fhackle, and the noon-day threat. 

That balm, deftruftive to the pangs of care, 
Which Rome of old, nor Athens could prepare. 
Which gains the day for many a modern chief 
When cool reflection yields a faint relief. 
That charm^ whofe virtue warms the world befide, 
Was by thefe tyrants to our ufe denied ; 
While yet they deign'd that healthfome balm to lade 
The putrid water felt its powerful aid. 
But when refus'd — to aggravate our pains — 
Then fevers rag'd and revel'd through our veins ; 
Throughout my frame I felt its deadly heat, 
I felt my pulfe with quicker motions beat : 
A pallid hue o'er every face was fpread, 
Unufual pains attacked the fainting head ; 
No phyfic here, no dodor to affift. 
With oaths, they plac'd me on the fick man's lift ; 
Twelve wretches more the fame dark fymptoms took, 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SKIP. 93 

And thefe were enter'd on the doctor's book ; 

The loathfome Hunter was our deftin'd place, 

The Hunter to all hofpitals difgrace ; 

With foldlers, fent to guard us on our road, 

Joyful we left the Scorpion's dire abode ; 

Some tears we fhed for the remaining crew. 

Then curs'd the hulk, and from her fides withdrew. 

Canto III.— The Hofpital Prifon-Ship. 

Now tow'rds the Hunter's gloomy decks we came, 
A flaughter-houfe, yet hofpital in name ; 
For none came there, 'till ruin'd with their fees, 

And half confum'd, and dying of difeafe ; 

But when too near, with labouring oars we ply'd. 

The Mate^ with curfes, drove us from the fide ; 

That wretch who, banifh'd from the navy crew. 

Grown old in blood, did here his trade renew, 

His rancorous tongue, when on his charge let loofe, 

Utter'd reproaches, fcandal, and abufe. 

Gave all to hell, who dar'd his king difown. 

And fwore mankind were made for George alone. 

A thoufand times, to irritate our woe. 

He wifti'd us founder'd in the gulph below ; 

A thoufand times, he brandifh'd high his ftick, 

And fwore as often that we were not fick 

And yet fo pale ! — that we were thought by fome 

A freight of ghofts, from death's dominions come 

But calm'd at length — for who can always rage, 



94 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

Or the fierce war of boundlefs paflion wage, 

He pointed to the flairs that led below 

To damps, difeafe, and varied fhapes of woe — 

Down to the gloom we took our penfive way, 

Along the decks the dying captives lay ; 

Some ftruck with madnefs, fome with fcurvy pain'd, 

But ftill of putrid fevers moft complain'd ! 

On the hard floors thefe wafted objefts laid. 

There tofs'd and tumbled in the difmal fhade. 

There no foft voice their bitter fate bemoan'd. 

And death trode ftately, while the victims groan'd ; 

Of leaky decks I heard them long complain, 

Drown'd as they were in deluges of rain, 

Deny'd the comforts of a dying bed, 

And not a pillow to fupport the head 

How could they elfe but pine, and grieve, and figh, 
Deteft a wretched life — and wifh to die. 
Scarce had I mingled with this difmal band 

When a thin vi6tim feiz'd me by the hand 

" And art thou come," (death heavy on his eyes) 
" And art thou come to thefe abodes," — (he cries ;) 
" Why didft thou leave the Scorpion's dark retreat, 
" And hither hafte, a furer death to meet ? 
" Why didft thou leave thy damp infected cell ? — 

" If that was purgatory, this is hell 

" We, too, grown weary of that horrid fhade 
" Petition'd early for the dodor's aid ; 
" His aid denied, more deadly fymptoms came, 
" Weak, and yet weaker, glow'd the vital flame ; 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 05 

^' And when difeafe had worn us down fo low 
" That few could tell if we were ghofts, or no, 

" And all aflerted death would be our fate 

" Then to the do6lor we were fent — too late. 

" Here waftes away Eurymedon the brave, 

" Here young Palemon finds a watery grave, 

" Here lov'd Alcander^ now alas ! no more, 

" Dies, far fequefter'd from his native fhore ; 

" He late, perhaps, too eager for the fray, 

" Chac'd the proud Briton o'er the watery way, 

cc ''Pill fortune, jealous, bade her clouds appear, 

"Turn'd hoftile to his fame, and brought him here, 

" Thus do our warriors, thus our heroes fall, 
" Imprifon'd here, fure ruin meets them all, 
" Or, fent afar to Britain's barbarous fhore, 
" There pine neglefted, and return no more : — 
" Ah reft in peace, each injur'd, parted fhade, 
" By cruel hands in death's dark weeds array'd. 
" The days to come fliall to your memory raife 
" Piles on thefe ftiores, to fpread thro' earth your praife." 

From Brooklyn heights a Heftian do6lor came, 
Not great his fkill, nor greater much his fame ; 
Fair Science never call'd the wretch her fon. 

And Art difdain'd the ftupid man to own ; 

Can you admire that Science was fo coy, 

Or Art refus'd his genius to employ ? 

Do men with brutes an equal dullnefs (hare. 

Or cuts yon' grovelling mole the midway air 

In polar worlds can Eden's bloflbms blow. 



9^ THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

Do trees of God in barren deferts grow. 
Are loaded vines to Etna's fummit known, 

Or fwells the peach beneath the frozen zone . 

Yet ftill he put his genius to the rack 

And, as you may fuppofe, was own'd a quack. 

He on his charge the healing work begun 
With antimonial mixtures, by the tun. 
Ten minutes was the time he deign'd to ftay, 

The time of grace allotted once a day. 

He drench'd us well with bitter draughts, 'tis true, 
Nojirums from hell, and cortex from Peru- 
Some with his pills he fent to Pluto's reign. 
And fome he blifter'd with his flies of Spain ; 
His Tartar dofes walk'd their deadly round. 
Till the lean patient at the potion frown'd 
And fwore that hemlock, death, or what you will, 
Were nonfenfe to the drugs that ftufF'd his bill.— , 
On thofe refufing, he beftow'd a kick. 
Or menac'd vengeance with his walking ftick ;— 
Here, uncontroul'd, he exercis'd his trade, 
And grew experienc'd by the deaths he made. 
By frequent blows we from his cane endur'd 
He kill'd at leaft as many as he cur'd. 
On our loft comrades built his future fame. 
And fcatter'd fate where'er his footfteps came. 

Some did not bend, fubmiffive to his Ikill, 
And fwore he mingled poifon with his pill, 
But I acquit him by a fair confeffion. 
He was no Myrmidon— -\.q was a Heftian— 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 97 

Although a dunce, he had fome fenfe of fin 
Or elfe the lord knows where we now had been ; 
No doubt, in that far country fent to range 
Where never prifoner meets with an exchange — 
No centries ftand, to guard the midnight pofts, 
Nor feal down hatch-ways on a crowd of ghofts. 

Knave though he was, yet candour muft confefs 
Not chief Phyfician was this man of HelTe — 
One mafter o'er the murdering tribe was plac'd, 
By him the reft were honour'd or difgrac'd ; 
Once, and but once, by fome ftrange fortune led 
He came to fee the dying and the dead — 
He came — but anger fo deform'd his eye. 
And fuch a faulchion ghtter'd on his thigh, 
And fuch a gloom his vifage darken'd o'er, 
And two fuch piftols in his hands he bore ! 
That, by the gods ! — v/ith fuch a load of fteel, 
He came, we thought, to murder, not to heal — 
Rage in his heart and mifchief in his head. 
He gloom'd deftrudlion, and had fmote us dead, 
Ha^ he fo dar'd — ^but fear with-held his hand — 
He came — blafphem'd — and turn'd again to land. 

From this poor veflel, and her fickly crew 
A Britifh feaman all his titles drew. 
Captain, efquire, commander, too, in chief. 
And hence he gain'd his bread, and hence his beef, 
But, fir, you might have fearch'd creation round 
And fuch another ruffian not have found — 
Though unprovok'd, an angry face he bore, 
7 



98 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

All were aftonifli'd at the oaths he fwore ; 
He fwore, till every prifoner flood aghaft, 
And thought him Satan in a brimftone blaft ; 
He wifh'd us banifh'd from the public light, 
He wifh'd us fbrouded in perpetual night ! 
That were he king, no mercy would he fhow, 
But drive all rebels to the world below ; 
That \i ^^ fcoujidreh did not fcrub the decks 
His ftafF fhould break our bafe rebellious necks ; — 
He fwore, befides, that fliould the (hip take fire 
We too mufl in the pitchy flames expire ; 
And meant it fo — this tyrant, I engage, 
Had lofl his life, to gratify his rage. — 

If where he walk'd a murdered carcafe lay. 
Still dreadful was the language of the day — 
He call'd us dogs, and would have held us fo. 
But terror check'd the meditated blow, 
Of vengeance, from our injur'd nation due 
To him, and all the bafe unmanly crew. 

Such food they fent, to make complete our woes, 
It look'd like carrion torn from hungry crows : 
Such vermin vile on every joint were feen. 
So black, corrupted, mortified, and lean. 
That once we try'd to move our flinty chief. 
And thus addrefs'd him, holding up the beef: 

" See, captain, fee ! what rotten bones we pick, 
" What kills the healthy cannot cure the fick : 
" Not dogs on fuch by Chrijiian men are fed, 
" And fee, good mafter, fee, v/hat loufy bread !" 



THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. (^ 

" Your meat or bread" (this man of, death replied) 
" 'Tis not my care to manage or provide — 
" But this, bafe rebel dogs, I'd have you know, 
" That better than you merit we beftow : 
" Out of my fight !" — nor more he deign'd to fay 
But whifk'd about, and frowning, ftrode away. 

Each day, at leaft fix carcafes we bore 
And fcratch'd them graves along the fandy fhore. 
By feeble hands the (hallow graves were made. 
No ftone, memorial, o'er the corpfes laid ; 
In barren fands, and far from home, they lie. 
No friend to fhed a tear, when palling by ; 
O'er the mean tombs the infulting Britons tread, 
Spurn at the fand, and curfe the rebel dead. 

When to your arms thefe fatal iflands fall, 
(For firft, or laft, they muft be conquer'd all) 
Americans ! to rites fepulchral juft, 
With gentleft footftep prefs this kindred duft. 
And o'er the tombs, if tombs can then be found. 
Place the green turf, and plant the myrtle round. 

Thefe all in Freedom's facred caufe allied. 
For Freedom ventur'd and for Freedom died. 
To bafe fubjeition they were never broke. 
They could not bend beneath a foreign yoke : 
Had thefe furvived, perhaps in thraldom held. 
To ferve the Britons they had been compelled — 
Ungenerous deed ! — can they the charge deny ? 
This to avoid how many chofe to die. 

Americans ! a juft refentment fhew, 



100 THE BRITISH PRISON-SHIP. 

And glut revenge on this detefted foe ; 
While the warm blood diftends the glowing vein 
Still (hall refentment in your bofoms reign : 
Can you forget the greedy Briton's ire, 
Your fields in ruin, and your domes on fire, 
No age, no fex, from luft and murder free. 
And, black as night, the hell-born refugee ! 
Muft York forever your beft blood entomb. 
And thefe gorg'd monfters triumph in our doom, 

Who leave no art of cruelty untry'd ; 

Such heavy vengeance, and fuch hellifli pride ! 
Death has no charms — his realms dejected He 
In the dull climate of a clouded fky. 
Death has no charms, except in Britifh eyes. 
See, arm'd for blood, the ambitious vultures rife, 
See how they pant to ftain the world with gore. 
And millions murder'd, ftill would murder more j 
That felfifh race, from all the world disjoined, 
Perpetual difcord fpread among mankind. 
Aim to extend their empire o'er the ball, 
Subjeft, deftroy, abforb, and conquer all ; 
As if the power, that form'd us, did condemn 

All other nations to be Haves to them 

Roufe from your fleep, and crufh the invading band, 
Defeat, deftroy, and fweep them from the land, 

Ally'd like you, what madnefs to defpair, 

Attack the ruffians while they linger there ; 

There Tryon fits, a tyrant all complete. 

See Vaughan^ there, with rude Knyphaufen meet, 



AN ANCIENT PROPHECY. 

TXT'HEN a certain great King, whofe initial is G, 

Forces Stamps upon paper, and folks to drink Tea ; 
When thefe folks burn his tea and ftampt paper, like ftubble, — 
You may guefs that this king is then coming to trouble. 

But when a Petition he treads under feet, 

And fends over the ocean an army and fleet. 

When that army, half famifh'd, and frantic with rage 

Is coop'd up with a leader, whofe name rhymes to cage ,• 

When that leader goes home, dejefted and fad ; 

You may then be affur'd the king's profpe6ls are bad. 

But when B. and C. with their armies are taken 
This king will do well, if he faves his own bacon : 
In the year Seventeen hundred and eighty and two 
A ftroke he fhall get, that will make him look blue : 
And foon, very foon, (hall the feafon arrive. 
When Nebuchadnezzar to pafture fhall drive. 

In the year eighty-three, the affair will be over 
And he (hall eat turnips that grow in Hanover : 



112 AN ANCIENT PROPHECY. 

The face of the Lion will then become pale, 

He fhall yield fifteen teeth, and be fheer'd of his tail — 

O king, my dear king, you fhall be very fore, 

From the Stars and the Stripes you will mercy implore. 

And your Lion fliall growl, but hardly bite more. 



I 



AN ADDRESS 



OF THE AMERICAN ARMY. 



A CCEPT, great men, that fhare of honeft pralfe 

A grateful nation to your merit pays : 
Verfe is too mean that merit to difplay, 
And words too weak our praifes to convey. 

When firft proud Britain rais'd her hoilile^^ hand 
With claims unjuft to bind our native land, 
Tranfported armies, and her millions fpent 
To enforce the mandates that a tyrant fent ; 
" Refift ! refift !" was heard through every ftate, 
You heard the call, and fear'd your country's fate : 
Then rifmg fierce in arms, for war array'd. 
You taught to vanquifh thofe who dar'd invade. 

Those Britijh chiefs whom former wars had crown'd 
With conqueft — and in every clime renown'd ; 
tf^ho forc'd new realms to own their monarch's law. 
And whom even George beheld with fecret awe — 
Thofe mighty chiefs, compell'd to fly or yield, 
Scarce dar'd to meet you on the embattled field j 

* "Heavy." — Ed. 1795. 



114 ^N ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN ARMY. 

To Boilon's port you chas'd the trembling crew, 
Quick, even from thence the Britifti veterans flew — 
Through wintry waves they fled, and thought each wave 
Their lad, beft fafety from a foe fo brave. 

What men, like you, our warfare could command. 
And bring us fafely to the promis'd land ? 
Not fwoln with pride, with vi6lory elate — 
'Tis in misfortune you are doubly great : 
When //(jz:;^ victorious our weak armies chas'd. 
And, fure of conqueft, laid Cefarea wafte. 
When proftrate, bleeding, at his feet fhe lay. 
And the proud victor tore her wreathes away, 
Each gallant chief put forth his warlike hand. 
And rais'd the drooping genius of the land, 
Repell'd the foe, their choiceft warriors flain. 
And drove them howling to their fhips again. 

While others kindle into martial rage 
Whom fierce ambition urges to engage. 
An iron race, by angry heav'n defign'd 
To conquer firfl, and then enflave mankind ; 
Here, chiefs and heroes more humane we fee. 
They venture life, that others may be free. 

O ! MAY you live to hail that glorious day 
When Britain homeward fhall purfue her way — 
That race fubdu'd, who fill'd the world with flain 
And rode tyrannic o'er the fubjeCl main ! — 
What few prefum'd, you boldly have atchiev'd, 
A tyrant humbled, and a world reliev'd. 

O Washington, who leadft this glorious train, 



AN ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN ARMY. II5 

Still may the fates thy valued life maintain — 
Rome's boafted chiefs, who, to their own difgrace, 
Prov'd the worft fcourges of the human race, 
Pierc'd by whofe darts a thoufand nations bled, 
Who captive princes at their chariots led ; 
Born to enflave, to ravage, and fubdue — 
Return to nothing^ when compar'd to you ; 
Throughout the world your growing fame has fpread. 
In every country are your virtues read ; 
Remoteft India hears your deeds of fame. 
The hardy Scythian ftammers at your name ; 
The haughty Turk, now longing to be free, 
Negle6ts his Sultan to enquire of thee ; 
The barbarous Briton hails you to his fhores. 
And calls him Rebel — whom his heart adores. 

Still may the heavens prolong your vital date, 
And ftill may conqueft on your banners wait : 
Whether afar to ravag'd lands you go. 
Where wild Potowmac' s rapid waters flow. 
Or where Saluda laves the fertile plain 
And, fwoln by torrents, rufhes to the main ; 
Or if again to Hudfon you repair 
To fmite the cruel foe that lingers there — 
Revenge their caufe, whofe virtue was their crime. 
The exil'd hofts from Carolina's chme. 

Late from the world, in quiet may'ft thou rife 
And, mourn'd by millions, reach your native fkies — 
With patriot kings and generous chiefs to fliine, 
Whofe virtues rais'd them to be deem'd divine : 



Il6 AN ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN ARMY. 

May Vasa"^' only equal honours claim, 
Alike in merits, and alike in fame ! 

* GtJSTAVus Vasa, of Sweden, the deliverer of his country. 



A NEW YORK TORY, 

TO HIS FRIEND IN PHILADELPHIA. 

"T^EAR Sir, I'm fo anxious to hear of your health, 

I beg you would fend me a letter by ftealth : 
I hope a few months will quite alter the cafe, 
When the wars are concluded, we'll meet and embrace. 

For I'm led to believe from our brilliant fuccefs, 
And, what is as clear, your amazing diftrefs. 
That the caufe of rebellion has met with a check 
That will bring all its patrons to hang by the neck. 

Cornwallis has manag'd fo well in the South, 
Thofe rebels want viftuals to put in their mouth ; 
And Arnold has ftript them, we hear, to the buff — 
Has burnt their tobacco, and left them — the fnuff.- 

Dear Thomas, I wifli you would move from that town 
Where meet all the rebels of fame and renown ; 
When our armies, vi6i:orious, fhall clear that vile neft 
You may chance, though a Tory, to fwing with the reft. 



Il8 A NEW YORK TORY. 

But again — on refle6lIon — I beg you would ftay — 
You may ferve us yet better than if mov'd away — 
Give advice to Sir Harry of all that is pailing, 
What veflels are building, what cargoes amaffing ; 

Inform, to a day, when thofe vefTels will fail, 
That our cruifers may capture them all, without fail — 
By proceedings, hke thefe, your peace {hall be made. 
The rebellious fliall fwing, but be you ne'er afraid. 

I cannot conceive how you do to fubfift — 

The rebels are ftarving, except thofe who 'lift ; 

And as you refide in the land of Gomorrah, 

You muft fare as the reft do, I think, to your forrow. 

Poor fouls ! if ye knew what a doom is decreed, 

(I mean not for you, but for rebels indeed) 

You would tremble to think of the vengeance in ftore, 

The halters and gibbets — I mention no more. 

The rebels muft furely conclude they're undone, 
Their navy is ruin'd, their armies have run ; 
It is time they fliould now from delufion awaken — 
The rebellion is done — for the Trumbull"^ is taken ! 



* The American frigate Trumbull, 20, Captain James Nicholfon, was chafed 
off the capes of the Delaware, Auguft 8th, 1781, by three Britifli cruifers. As it 
was blowing heavily towards night, the fore-topmaft of the Trumbull was carried 
away by a fquall, bringing down with it, on deck, the main-topgallant maft. 
About ten o'clock at night, one of the Britifh vefTels, the Iris, 32, came up and 
clofed with her while ftill encumbered with the wreck. " In the midft of rain 



A NEW YORK TORY. II9 

and fqualis, in a tempeftuous night, with moft of the forward hamper of the fhiu 
ijver her bows, or lying on the forecaftle, with one of the arms of the fore-topfail 
yard run through her fore-fail, and the other jammed on deck, and with a difor- 
ganized crew, Captain Nicholfon found himfelf compelled to go to quarters, or to 
ftrike without refiftance. He preferred the firft ; but the Englifh volunteers, in- 
ftead of obeying orders, went below, extinguifhed the lights, and fecreted them- 
felves. Near half of the remainder of the people imitated this example, and 
Captain Nicholfon could not mufter fifty of even the diminifhed crew he had, 
at the guns. The battle that followed might almoft be faid to have been fought 
by the officers, Thefe brave men, fuftained by a party of the petty officers and 
feamen, managed a few of the guns for more than an hour, when the General 
Monk, i8, coming up and joining in the fire of the Iris, the Trumbull fubmit- 
ted." — Cooper's Nwval Hijiory. 



H 



TO LORD CORNWALLIS, 



"AIL, great deftroyer (equall'd yet by none) 
Of countries not your mafter's, nor your own ; 
Hatch'd by fome demon on a ftormy day, 
Satan's befl fubftitute to burn and flay ; 
Confin'd at laft ; hem'd in by land and fea, 
Burgoyne himfelf was but a type of thee ! 

Like his, to freedom was your deadly hate. 
Like his your bafenefs, and be his your fate : 
To you, like him, no profpecS: Nature yields 
But ruin'd waftes and defolated fields — 
In vain you raife the interpofing wall. 
And hoift thofe ftandards that, like you, muft fall, 

* Charles, Marquis of Cornwallis, came to New York with his regiment in 
1776. After ferving for a while as Major-General in the campaigns in the 
Jerfeys, he was engaged in the expedition to the Chefapeake, and fubfequently, 
in 1780, in the fiege of Charlefton, S. C, which ended in its furrender. Left in 
command in the State, he fought the battles of Camden and Guilford, making 
his way northerly, with his army, through the Carolinas to Virginia, where he 
maintained himfelf in a fortified pofition, at Yorktown, till he was compelled to 
furrender to Wafhington, in Odlober, 1781. Cornwallis was at this time at the 
age of forty-three. His fubfequent career, in India, was diftinguifhed. He was 
in 1798 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. In 1805 he was fent to India, as Gov- 
ernor-General, and died Ihortly after his arrival at Calcutta. 



TO LORD CORNWALLIS. 121 

In you conclude the glories of your race, 
Complete your monarch's, and your own difgrace. 

What has your lordfhip's pilfering arms attained ? — 
Vaft ftores o^ plunder^ but no state regain'd — 
That may return, though you perhaps may groan. 
Reftore it, Charley, for 'tis not your own — 
Then, lord and foldier, headlong to the brine 
Rufh down at once — the devil and the fwine. 

Would'ft thou at laft with Wajh'ington engage. 
Sad objecl of his pity, not his rage ? 
See, round thy pofts how terribly advance 
The chiefs, the armies, and the fleets of France ; 
Fight while you can, for warlike Rochamheau 
Aims at your head his lafl: decifive blow ; 
Unnumber'd ghofts from earth untimely fped. 
Can take no reft till you, like them, are dead — 
Then die, my Lord ; that only chance remains 
To wipe away difhonourable ftains, 
For fmall advantage would your capture bring, 
The plundering few ant of a bankrupt king, 
\paoher%. 1781.] 



A LONDON DIALOGUE, 

BETWEEN MY LORDS, DUNMORE AND GERMAINE. 

Dunmore. 

T?VER fince I return'd to my dear native fhore, 

No poet in Gruhfireet was ever dunn'd more — 
I'm dunn'd by my barber, my taylor, my groom ; 
How can I do elfe than to fret and to fume ? 
They join to attack me with one good accord, 
From morning 'till night 'tis " my lord, and my lord." 
And there comes the cobler, fo often deny'd — 
If I had him in private, I'd threfh his tough hide. 

Germaine. 

Would you worry the man that has found you in flioes ? 
Come, courage, my lord, I can tell you good news — 
Virginia is conquered, the rebels are bang'd. 
You are now to go over and fee them fafe hang'd : 
I hope it is not to your nature abhorrent 
To fign for thefe wretches a handfome death warrant- 
Were I but in your place, I'm fure it would fuit 
To fign their death warrants, and hang them to boot. 



A LONDON DIALOGUE. 



Dunmore, 



123 



My lord ! — Pm amaz'd — have we routed the foe ? — 
I fhall govern again then, if matters be fo — 
And as to the hanging, in fhort, to be plain, 
I'll hang them fo well, they'll ne'er want it again. 
With regard to the wretches who thump at my gates, 
I'll difcharge all their dues with the rebel eftates ; 
In lefs than three months I fhall fend a polacca 
As deep as Ihe'll fwim, fir, with corn and tobacco. 

Germaine. 

And fend us fome rebels — a dozen or fo — 

They'll ferve here in London by way of a fhow ; 

And as to the Tories, believe me dear coufin. 

We can fpare you fome hundreds to pay for the dozen. 



LORD CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON. 

FROM YORK, VIRGINIA. 

TT^ROM clouds of fmoke, and flames that round me glow, 

To you, dear Clinton, I difclofe my woe. 
Here cannons flafh, bombs glance, and bullets fly ; 
Not Arnold's felf endures fuch mifery. 
Was I foredoom'd in tortures to expire, 
Hurl'd to perdition in a blaze of fire ? 
With thefe blue flames can mortal man contend — 
What arms can aid me, or what walls defend ? 
Even to thefe gates laft night a phantom ftrode, 
And hail'd me trembling to his dark abode : 
Aghaft I ftood, ftruck motionlefs and dumb, 
Seiz'd with the horrors of the world to come. 
Were but my power as mighty as my rage. 
Far different battles would Cornwallis wage. 
Beneath his fword yon' threat'ning hojfts fhould groan. 
The earth fhould quake with thunders all his own. 
O crocodile ! had I thy flinty hide. 
Swords to defy, and glance the balls afide. 
By my own prowefs would I rout the foe. 
With my own javelin would I work their woe — 



LORD CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON. 1 25 

But fates averle, by heaven's fupreme decree, 
Nile's ferpent form'd more excellent than me. 

Has heaven, in fecret, for fome crime decreed 
That I fhould fufFer, and my foldiers bleed ? 
Or is it by the jealous fkies conceal'd, 
That I muft bend, and they ignobly yield ? 
Ah ! no — the thought o'erwhelms my foul with grief. 
Come, bold fir Harry, come to my relief \ 
Come, thou brave man, whom rebels Tombjione call, 
But Britons, Graves — come Digby, devil, and all ; 
Come, princely William, with thy potent aid, 
Can George's blood by Frenchmen be difmay'd ? 
From a king's uncle once Scotch rebels run, 
And fhall not thefe be routed by Tifon f 
Come with your fliips to this difaft'rous (hore. 
Come — or I fink — and fink to rife no more. 
By every motive that can fway the brave 
Hafte, and my feeble, fainting army fave ; 
Come, and loft empire o'er the deep regain, 
Chaftife thefe upftarts that ufurp the main : 
I fee their firft rates to the charge advance, 
I fee loft Iris wear the flags of France j"^ 
There a ftriit rule the wakeful Frenchman keeps. 
There, on no bed of down, lord Rawdon fleeps ! 

Tir'd with long ailing on this bloody ftage. 
Sick of the follies of a wrangling age, 
Come with your fleet, and help me to retire 

* Note ante, page 82. 



126 LORD CORNWALLIS TO SIR HENRY CLINTON. 

To Britain's coaft, the land of my defire — 
For, me the foe their certain captive deem, 
And every trifler takes me for his theme — 
Long, much too long, in this hard fervice try'd, 
Befpatter'd ftill, bedevil'd, and bely'd ; 
With the firft chance that favouring fortune fends 
I'll fly, converted, from this land of fiends, 
Convinc'd, for me, fhe has no gems in ftore, 
Nor leaves one triumph, even to hope for, more. 

[1781.] 



ON THE FALL OF GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS, 

Who, with about feven thoufand Men, furrendered themfelves prifoners of war, 
to the Allied Armies of America and France, on the memorable 19th of 
Odober, 178 1. 

" One brilliant game our arms have won to-day, 
Another, Primes^ yet remains to play ; 
Another mark our arrows muft attain — 
Gallia* affifl ! — nor be our efforts vain." 

Horn. Odyffey^ Book xxii. 

A CHIEFTAIN, form'd on Hoiue^ Burgoyne^ and Gage^ 
Once more, nor this the laft, provokes my rage — 
Who saw thefe Nimrods firfl for conqueft burn ! 
Who has not feen them to the dull return ? 
This conqueror next, who ravaged all our fields, 
Foe to the Rights of Man, Cornwallis yields ! — 
None e'er before efTay'd fuch defperate crimes. 
Alone he flood, arch-butcher of the times, 
Rov'd, uncontroul'd, this wafted country o'er, 
Strew'd plains with dead, and bath'd his jaws with gore. 

'Twas thus the wolf, who fought by night his prey. 
And plunder'd all he met with on his way. 
Stole what he could, and murder'd as he pafs'd, 
Chanc'd on a trap, and lofl his head at iafl. 

*■ In the original, — " Phoebus affift ! — nor be the labour vain." — Author i Note. 



128 FALL OF GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS. 

What pen can write, what human tongue declare 
The endlefs murders of this lord of war ! 
Nature in him difgrac'd the form divine ; 
Nature miftook, fhe meant him for a — fwine ; 
That eye his forehead, to her fhame, adorns ; 
Blufh ! Nature, blufh — beftow him tail and horns !— 
By him the orphan mourns — the widow'd dame 
Saw ruin fpreading in the wafteful flame ; 
Gafh'd o'er with wounds, beheld with ftreaming eye 

A fon, a brother, or a confort, die ! 

Through ruin'd realms bones lie without a tomb, 
And fouls he fped to their eternal doom. 
Who elfe had liv'd, and feen their toils again 
Blefs'd by the genius of the rural reign. 

Convinc'd we are, no foreign fpot of earth 
But Britain only, gave this warrior birth : 
That white-clifF'd ifle, the vengeful tyrants' den, 
Has fent us monfters, where we look'd for men. 
When memory paints their horrid deeds anew. 
And brings thefe murdering mifcreants to our view. 
We alk the leaders of thefe bloody bands. 
Can they expert compailion at our hands ? — 

But may this year, the glorious eighty-one, 
Conclude fuccefsful, and all wars be done ; 
This briUiant year their total downfall fee, 
And what Cornwallis zV, Sir Henry'^ be. 

O come the time, nor diftant be the day, 

* Sir Henry Clinton. 



FALL OF GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS. 1 29 

When our fwift navy fhall its wings difplay ; 
Mann'd by brave fouls, to feek the Britifh fhore, 
The wrongs revenging that their fathers bore : 
As earthquakes fhook the huge Colossus down, 
So fhake the wearer of the Britifh crown ; 
Unpitying next his hated offspring flay, 
Or into foreign lands by force convey : 
Give them their turn to pine and die in chains, 
'Till, not one tyrant of the race remains. 

Thou, who refideft on thofe thrice happy fhores, 
Where white-rob'd peace her envied bleflings pours. 
Stay, and enjoy the pleafures that fhe yields ; 
But come not, flranger, to our wafted fields. 
For warlike hofls on every plain appear, 
War damps the beauties of the rifing year : 
In vain the groves their bloomy fweets difplay ; 
War's clouded winter chills the charms of May : 
Here human blood the trampled harveft ftains ; 
Here bones of men yet whiten all the plains ; 
Seas teem with dead ; and our unhappy fhore 
Forever blufhes with its children's gore. 

But turn your eyes — behold the tyrant fall. 
Nor fay — Cornwallis has achiev'd it all. — 

All mean revenge Americans difdain. 
Oft have they prov'd it, and now prove again ; 
With nobler fires their generous bofoms glow ; 
Still in the captive they forget the foe : — 
But when a nation takes a wrongful caufe. 
And hoflile turns to heaven's and nature's laws ; 
9 



130 FALL OF GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS. 

When, facrificing at ambition's fhrine, 

Kings flight the mandates of the power divine, 

And devaftation fpread on every fide. 

To gratify their malice or their pride, 

And fend their flaves their proje6ls to fulfil, 

To wreft our freedom, or our blood to fpill : — 

Such to forgive, is virtue too fublime ; 

For, even compaflion has been found a crime. 

A prophet once, for miracles renown'd. 
Bade Joafh fmite the arrows on the ground — 
Taking the myftic fhafts, the prince obey'd. 
Thrice fmote them on the earth — and then he ftay'd — 

Griev'd when he faw full victory deny'd, 
" Six times you fhould have fmote," the prophet cry'd, 
" Then had proud Syria funk beneath your power ; — 
" Now thrice you fmite her — but fhall fmite no more." 

Cornwallis ! thou art rank'd among the great ; 
Such was the will of all-controuling fate. 
As mighty men, who liv'd in days of yore, 
Were figur'd out fome centuries before ; 
. So you with them in equal honour join. 

Your great precurfor's name was 'Jack Burgoyne ! 
Like you was he, a man in arms renown'd. 
Who, hot for conqueft, fail'd the ocean round ; 
This, this was he, who fcour'd the woods for praife. 
And burnt down cities to defcribe the blaze ! 

So, while on fire, his harp Rome's tyrant ftrung. 
And as the buildings flam'd, old Nero fung. 

Who could have guefs'd the purpofe of the fates, 



FALL OF GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS. 1 3] 

When that vain hoajier bow'd to conquering Gates ! 

Then fung the fifters as the wheel went round, 

(Could we have heard the invigorating found) 

Thus furely did the fatal fifters fing — 

" When juft four years do this fame feafon bring, 

" And in his annual journey, when the fun 

" Four times completely fhall his circuit run, 

" An Angel then fhall rid you of your fears, 

" By binding Satan* for a thoufand years, 

" Shall lafti his godftiip to the infernal fhore, 

" To wafte the nations, and deceive no more ; 

" Make wars, and blood, and tyranny to ceafe, 

" And hufli the rage of Europe into peace." 

Joy to your lordfhip, and your high defcent, 
You are the Satan that th^jijiers meant. 
Too foon you found your race of ruin run. 
Your conquefts ended, and your battles done ! 
But that to hve is better than to die, 
And life you chofe, though life with infamy. 
You fhould have climb'd your loftieft vefTel's maft, 
Took one fad furvey of your wanton wafte. 
Then plung'd forever to the wat'ry bed. 
Loft all your honours — even your memory dead. 

Aftiam'd to live, and yet afraid to die. 
Your courage llacken'd as your foe drew nigh — 
Ungrateful chief, to yield your favorite band 
To chains and prifons, in a hoftile land : 

* "Pluto."— Ed. 1795. 



32 FALL OF GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS. 

To the wide world your Negro friends to caft, 
And leave your Tories to be hang'd at laft ! — 
You fhould have fought with horror and amaze, 
'Till fcorch'd to cinders in the cannon blaze, 
'Till all your hoft of Gog-magogs was flain, 
Doom'd to difgrace no human fhape again- — 
From depths of woods this hornet hoft he drew — 
Swift from the fouth the envenom'd ruffians flew ; — 
Deftruftion follow'd at their cloven feet, 
'Till you, Fayette^ conftrain'd them to retreat. 
And held them clofe, 'till thy fam'd fquadron came, 
De Grasse, completing their eternal fliame. 

When the loud cannon's unremitting glare, 
And red hot balls compell'd you to defpair. 
How could you ftand to meet your generous foe ? 
Did not the fight confound with rage and woe ? — 
In thy great foul what god-like virtues ihine. 
What inborn greatnefs, Washington, is thine ! — 
Elfe had no prifoner trod thefe. lands to-day. 
All, with his lordfhip, had been fwept away. 
All doom'd alike death's vermin to regale. 
Nor one been left to tell the dreadful tale ! 
But his own terms the mean invader nam'd — 
He nobly gave the prifoner all he claim'd. 
And bade Cornwallis, conquer'd and diftrefs'd. 
Bear all his torments in one tortur'd breaft. 

Now curft with life, 2ifoe to man and God, 
Like Cain^ we drive you to the land of AW; 
He with a brother's blood his hands did ftain. 



FALL OF GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS. 1 33 

One brother he — you have a thoufand flain. 
On eagles' wings explore your homeward flight, 
Plan future conquefts, and new battles fight : 
Such horrid deeds your murdering hoft defame 
We grieve to think their form, and ours, the fame : 
Remorfe be theirs ! — even you, though much too late, 
Shall curse the day you languifh'd to be great : 
And, may defl:ru6tion rufh, with fpeedy wing, 
Low as yourfelf, to drag each tyrant king ; 
Swept from this ftage, the race that vex our ball, 
Deep in the duft may every monarch fall. 
To wafted nations bid a long adieu. 
Shrink from an injur'd world — and fare like YOU. 



TO THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE AMERICANS, 

Under General Greene, in South Carolina, who fell in the adlion of September 

8, 1781.* 

A T EuTAW Springs the valiant died : 

Their limbs with duft are cover'd o'er — 
Weep on, ye fprings, your tearful tide ; 
How many heroes are no more ! 

If in this wreck of ruin, they 

Can yet be thought to claim a tear, 

O fmite thy gentle breaft, and fay 

The friends of freedom {lumber here ! 

* The battle ofEutaw Springs was one of the beft contefted fields of the Rev- 
olution. Both fides fought with extraordinary heroifm. General Greene was in 
command of the Americans, and Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart of the Britiih, in this 
engagement. Greene had about two thoufand men in the field, and the ftrength 
of the enemy was about the fame. The battle lafled nearly four hours; the 
bayonet was freely ufed. The lofs on both fides was extraordinary for the num- 
bers engaged. " Never," wrote General Greene of his army, in a letter to Con- 
grefs, " did men and officers offer their blood more willingly in the fervice of 
their country." The advantage was, at firft, with the Americans, and afterwards 
with the Britifh. Both fides claimed the vidory. "The truth feems to be," 
fays Chief- Juftice Marfhall, in his "Life of WafKington," "that, unconnefted 
with its confequences, the fortune of the day was nearly balanced. But, if the 
confequences be taken into the account, the victory unqueftionably belonged to 
Greene. The refult was the expulfion of the hoflile army from the territory, 
which was the immediate objedt of conteft." 



TO THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE AMERICANS. I35 

Thou, who fhalt trace this bloody plain, 
If goodnefs rules thy generous breaft. 

Sigh for the wafted rural reign ; 

Sigh for the fhepherds, funk to reft ! 

Stranger, their humble graves adorn ; 

You too may fall, and alk a tear ; 
'Tis not the beauty of the morn 

That proves the evening ftiall be clear — 

They faw their injur'd country's woe ; 

The flaming town, the wafted field ; 
Then rufli'd to meet the infulting foe ; 

They took the fpear — but left the fhield. 

Led by thy conquering genius, Greene, 
The Britons they compell'd to fly : 

None diftant view'd the fatal plain. 

None griev'd, in fuch a caufe, to die — 

But, like the Parthian, fam'd of old. 
Who, flying, ftill their arrows threw ; 

Thefe routed Britons, full as bold 
Retreated, and retreating flew. 

Now reft in peace, our patriot band ; 

Though far from Nature's limits thrown, 
We truft, they find a happier land, 

A brighter fun-fhine of their own. 



THE ROYAL ADVENTURER.* 

TDRINCE William, of the Brunfwick race, 
To wltnefs George's fad difgrace 

The royal lad came over. 
Rebels to kill, by Right Divine — 
Deriv'd from that illuftrious line, 

The beggars of Hanover. 



* Prince William Henry, the third fon of George III., afterwards William 
IV., entered the navy as midftiipman at the age of fourteen, in 1779. He failed 
in the Prince George, of 98 guns, to Gibraltar, in the courfe of which cruife he 
faw fome fervice, under Rodney, in conflidl with the Spanifh fleet; and it was 
in this fhip, accompanied by Admiral Digby, that he arrived at New York, in 
September, 178 1. He had juft completed his fixteenth year. He v/as ceremo- 
nioufly welcomed by the Commander-in-chief,. Sir Henry Clinton, by Governor 
Robertfon, and " other great officers of the crown, conduced to Commodore 
Affleck's, where his royal Highnefs dined, and, in the evening, retired to apart- 
ments provided for his accommodation in Wall ftreet." Soon after his arrival, 
the Governor, in the name of himfelf, his Majefty's council, and the inhabitants, 
prefented him with an addrefs overflowing with fulfome expreffions of loyalty. 
" On the report of your coming," was its language, " we felt our obligation to 
our gracious king for this new and fignal proof of his regard. Your royal High- 
nefs' appearance augments our gratitude, by improving our idea of the extent of 
his goodnefs. Your prefence animates every loyal breafl:. The glow in our own 
perfuades us you are formed to win every heart. A rebellion that grew upon 
prejudice, fhould fink at the approach of fo fair a reprefentation of the royal vir- 
tues. Butifamifled faftion, not to be vanquifhed by goodnefs, perfifts in the 
war, every man of fpirit will be proud to fight in a caufe for which you expofe 
your life." The Prince remained in the city during the winter and the enfuing 
fummer, partaking of the hofpitalities of the officers and others, and, during the 



THE ROYAL ADVENTURER. I37 

So many chiefs got broken pates 
In vanquifliing the rebel States, 

So many nobles fell, 
That George the third in paflion cry'd, 
" Our royal blood muft now be try'd ; 

" 'Tis that muft break the fpell : 

" To you (the fat pot-valiant Swine 
" To DiGBY faid) dear friend of mine, 

" To you I truft my boy ; 
" The rebel tribes fhall quake with fears, 
" Rebellion die when he appears, 

" My Tories leap with joy." 

So faid, fo done — the lad was fent. 
But never reach'd the continent. 

An ifland held him faft — 
Yet there his friends danc'd rigadoons. 
The Heflians fung, in High Dutch tunes, 

" Prince William's come at laft." 



fkating feafon, enjoying that paftime on the ponds in the vicinity. In March, 
1782, there was a plan on foot, originated by Colonel Matthias Ogden, of New 
Jerfey, to " furprife in their quarters and bring off" the Prince and Admiral 
Digby; but though the fcheme had the approval of Washington, who coun- 
felled that, if captured, the prifoners fhould be treated " with all poflible re- 
fpedl," nothing appears to have been attempted in the matter. On the 4th of 
June, the Prince received, as is duly recorded in the Rcyal GazettCy the congratu- 
lations of the Commander-in-chief, with a proceffion of officers, on occafion of 
his father's birth-day; and on the 21ft of Auguft, his own was celebrated with 
" the ufual felicitations." The Prince was afterwards transferred to the Bar- 
fleur, commanded by Sir Samuel Hood, and left the ftation for the Weft Indies 
prior to his return to En3l3nd, in the fummcr of 1783. 



138 THE ROYAL ADVENTURER. 

" Prince William comes !" — The Briton cry'd — 
" Our labours now will be repaid — * 

" Dominion be reflored — 
" Our monarch is in William feen, 
" He is the image of our queen, 

" Let William be ador'd !" 

The Tories came with long addrefs, 
With poems groan'd the Royal Prefs\ 

And all in William's praife — 
The youth aftonifti'd look'd about 
To find their vaft dominions out, 

Then anfwer'd, in amaze : 

" Where all your vaft domain can be, 
" Friends, for my foul I cannot fee : 

" 'Tis but an empty name : 
" Three wafted iflands, and a town 
" In rubbifh buried — half burnt down, 

" Is all that we can claim : 

" I am of royal birth, 'tis true, 

" But what, my fons, can princes do, 

" No armies to command ? 
" Cornwallis conquer'd and diftreft — 
" Sir Henry Clinton grown a jeft — 

" I curfe — and quit the land." [i?^^.] 

* " The glory of our empire wide 

"Shall now be foon reftor'd." — Ed. 1795. 



LORD DUNMORE'S PETITION 

TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA I 

Humbly Sheweth^ 

'T^HAT a filly old fellow, much noted of yore, 

And known by the name of John, earl of Dunmore, 
I Has again ventur'd over to vifit your fhore. 

( The reafon of this he begs leave to explain — 

j In England they faid you were conquer'd and flain, 

•| (But the devil take him that believes them again) — 

I 

I So, hearing that moft of you Rebels were dead, 

That fome had fubmitted, and others had fled, 

i I mufter'd my Tories, myfelf at their head, 

I And over we fcudded, our hearts full of glee, 
I As merry as ever poor devils could be, 
CKir ancient dominion^ Virginia, to fee ; 

I Our {hoe-boys, and tars, and the very cook's mate 
J Already conceiv'd he pofTefs'd an eftate, 

And the Tories no longer were curfmg their fate. 



140 LORD DUNMORE S PETITION. 

Myfelf, (the don Quixote) and each of the crew, 

Like Sancho, had iflands and empires in view — 

They were captains, and kings, and the devil knows who : 

But now, to our forrow, difgrace, and furprife. 

No longer deceiv'd by the Father of Lies ^"^ 

We hear with our ears, and we fee with our eyes : — 

I have therefore to make you a modeft requeft, 
(And I'm fure, in my mind, it will be for the beft) 
Admit me again to your manfions of reft. 

There are Eden, and Martin, and Franklin, and Tryon,f 

All waiting to fee you fubmit to the Lion, 

And may wait 'till the devil is king of Mount Sion : — 

Though a brute and a dunce, like the reft of the clan, 
I can govern as well as moft Engliftimen can ; 
And if I'm a drunkard, I ftill am a man : 

I mifs'd it fome how in comparing my notes, 
Or fix years ago I had join'd with your votes ; 
Not aided the negroes in cutting your throats. 

Altho' with fo many hard names I was branded, 
I hope you'll believe, (as you will, if you're candid) 
That I only perform'd what my mafter commanded. 

* Rivington, the printer of the Royal Ga-zette at New York. 

•j- The laft royal governors : Robert Eden, of Maryland ; Jofeph Martin, of 
North Carolina ; William Franklin, of New Jerfey ; William Tryon, of New 
York. 



f 



LORD DUNMORE's PETITION. I4I 

Give me lands, whores and dice, and you ftill may be free ; 
Let who will be mafter, we fha'nt difagree ; 
If king or if Congrefs — no matter to me ; — 

I hope you will fend me an anfwer ftraightway, 
For 'tis plain that at Charlefton we cannot long ftay — 
And your humble petitioner ever fhall pray. 
{Charlefton^ Jan, 6, 1782.] 



EPIGRAM 

Occafioned by the Title of Mr. Rivington's New York Royal Gazette being 
fcarcely legible.* 

CAYS Satan to Jemmy, " I hold you a bet 

" That you mean to abandon our Royal Gazette, 
" Or, between you and me, you vvou'd manage things bettei 
" Than the Title to print on fo fneaking a letter. 

* "James Rivington, the king's printer in New York, in this era of the Rev- 
olution, an Engllfhman by birth, having failed as a bookfeller in London, came to 
America in 1760. He conduced a bookftore in Philadelphia previous to his 
eftablifhment in New York ; at firft in that bufmefs, and afterwards as a printer. 
In 1773, he began the publication of the Nciv Tork Ga-zetteer^ and, as the crifis 
of the Revolution approached, excited the hoftility of the popular party by his 
devotion to the royal caufe. In November, 1775, his prefs was broken up by an 
incurfion of the whig leader, Captain Ifaac Sears, from Connefticut. Rivington 
then left for England, and returning, with a new prefs, was appointed king's 
printer. The Royal Gazette^ which he now publiflied, foon attained a reputation 
for its unfcrupulous partifanfhip. — It was popularly called, by the patriots who 
fufFered from its mifreprefentations, ' The Lying Gazette.' Freneau, who knew 
the man, took a humorous delight in replying to the fquibs and attacks with 
which the Gazette abounded ; and as the war clofed, and Rivington, who, it was 
found, had aflifted Wafliington as a fpy, made overtures for reconciliation, the 
wits, including, with Freneau, Francis Hopkinfon, Dr. Witherfpoon, and Trum- 
bull, mingling feverity with ridicule, opened all their batteries upon him. Riv- 
ington, a fupple courtier, flood the fire as beft he might, took down the royal 
arms of which Freneau had made fport, and continued his paper with the title, 
Rivington s Neiv Tork Gazette and Uni'vcrjal Ad-vertijer. But the people were 



EPIGRAM. 143 

'•'■ Now being conne6led fo long in the art, 

" It would not be prudent at prefent to part ; 

'' And people, perhaps, would be frighten'd, and fret 

"If the devil alone carry'd on the Gazette." 

Says Jemmy to Satan (by way of a wipe) 
" Who gives me the matter fhould furnifh the type ; 
" And why you find fault, I can fcarcely divine, 
" For the types, like the printer, are certainly thine. 

" 'Tis yours to deceive with the femblance of truth, 
"^^ Thou friend of my age, and thou guide of my youth ! 
" But, to profper, pray fend me fome further fupplies, 
1 " A fett of new types, and a fett of new lies." 

I [^^^. 13. 1782.] 

I 

I not difpofcd to forget his mifdeeds, and the Gazette languiihed and came to an 
I early termination. Rivington continued to refide in New York till his death, in 

1802, at the age of feventy-eight." — Cyclopadia of American Literature, I., 

278-83. 



LINES 

Occafioned by Mr. Rivington's new Titular types to his Royal Gazette, of 
February 17, 1782. 

\^^ELL — now (faid the devil) it looks fomething better! 

Your title is ftruck on a charming new Letter : 
Laft night in the dark, as I gave it a fquint, 
I faw my dear partner had taken the hint. 

I. ever furmis'd (though 'twas doubted by ibme) 
That the old types were fhadows of fubftance to come : 
But if the NEW LETTER is pregnant with charms 
It grieves me to think of thofe curfed King's Arms. 
The Dieu et mon droit (his God and his right) 
Is fo dim, that I hardly know what is meant by't 
The paws of the Lion can fcarcely be feen, 
And the Unicorn's guts are moft fhamefully lean ! 
The Crown is fo worn of your mafter the defpot. 
That I hardly know which 'tis (a crown or a pifTpot) — 
When I rub up my day-lights, and look very fharp 
I juft can diftinguish the Irifhman's harp ; 
Another device appears rather filly, 
Alas ! it is only the fhade of the Lilly ! 
For the honour of George, and the fame of our nation 
Pray, give his efcutcheons a redification — 



rivington's new titular types. 145 

Or I know what I know (and I'm a queer fhaver) 
Of HIM and his Arms I'll be the engraver."^ 

[1782.] 

* The pun in the laft word is diftindlly marked in the earlier edition of 1786, 
-" the //j-grave-r." 



ON MR. RIVINGTON'S NEW ENGRAVKD KING'S 
ARMS TO HIS ROYAL GAZETTE. 

TT^ROM the regions of night, with his head in a fack, 

Afcended a perfon accoutred in black, 
And upward dire6ting his circular eye whites ; 
(Like the Jure-divino political Levites) 
And leaning his elbow on Rivington's fhelf, * 

While the printer was bufy, thus mus'd with himfelf : 
" My mandates are fully complied with at laft, 
" New ARMS are engrav'd, and new letters are caft ; 
" I therefore determine and freely accord, 
" This fervant of mine fhall receive his reward." 
Then turning about, to the printer he faid, 
" Who late was my fervant fhall now be my Aid ; 
" Since under my banners fo bravely you fight, 
" Kneel down ! — for your merits I dubb you a knight, 
"From a pziTivefubalter?! I bid you to rife 
" The Inventor, as well as the printer of lies." 

[1782.] 



A SPEECH 

That fhould have been fpoken by the King of the ifland of Britain to his 
Parliament. 

l\yTY lords, I can hardly from weeping refrain, 

When I think of this year, and its curfed campaign ; 
But ftill it is folly to whine and to grieve. 
For things will yet alter, I hope and believe. 

■ Of the four fouthern States we again are bereav'd. 
They were juft*in our grafp (or I'm fadly deceiv'd) : 

*There are wizzards and witches that dwell in thofe lands 
For the moment we gain them, they flip from our hands. 



I 

j Our profpedts, at prefent, moft gloomy appear ; 

] Cornwallis returns, with a flea in his ear, 

\ Sir Henry is fick of his ftation, we know— 

And Amherft, though prefs'd, is unwilling to go. 

The Hero* that fteer'd for the cape of Good Hope 
I With Monfieur SufFrein was unable to cope — 
I Many months are elaps'd, yet his tafk is to do — 

To conquer the Cape, and to conquer Peru : 

* Commodore George Johnftone, commanding the Britifh Eaft India fleet, 
was attacked by the French fleet under M. de Suff.ein at St. Jago, one of the 
Cape de Verd Iflands, in 178 1. Johnftone's fl.ig-ship was the Rodney, 50. 



148 ' A SPEECH. 

When his fquadron at Portfmouth he went to equip, 
He promis'd great things from his fifty-gun ship ; 
But, let him alone — while he knows which is which. 
He'll not be (o ready to " die in a ditch.'' 

This feffion, I thought to have told you thus much, 
"A treaty concluded, and peace with the Dutch" — 
But, as ftubborn as ever, they vapour and brag. 
And fail by my nofe with the Pruffian flag. 

The emprefs refufes to join on our fide, 
As yet with the Indians we're only ally'd : 
(Though fuch an alliance is rather improper. 
We Englifh are white, but their colour is copper.) 

The Irifh, I fear, have fome mifchief in view ; 
They ever have been a moft troublefome crew — 
If a truce or a treaty hereafter be made. 
They fhall pay very dear for their prefent free trade. 

Dame Fortune, I think, has our ftandard forfaken. 
For Tobago, they fay, by Frenchmen is taken : 
Minorca's befieg'd — and as for Gibraltar, 
By Jove, if it's taken I'll take to the halter. 

It makes me fo wroth, I could fcold like Xantippe 
When I think of our lofles along Miflifippi — 
And fee in the Indies that horrible Hyder 
His conquefts extending ftill wider, and wider. 



A SPEECH. 149 

'Tvvlxt Wafhington, Hyder, Don Galvez, De GrafTe, 
By my foul, we are brought to a very fine pafs — 
When we've reafon to hope new battles are won, 
A packet arrives — and an army's undone ! — 

In the midft of this fcene of difmay and diftrefs, 
V/hat is beft to be done, is not eafy to guefs, 
For things may go wrong though we plan them aright, 
, And blows they muft look for, whofe trade is to fight. 

1 

, In regard to the Rebels, it is my decree 

I That dependent on Britain they ever fhall be ; 

Or I've captains and hofts, that will fly at my nod 
I And daughter them all — by the blefling of God. 

But if they fucceed, as they're likely to do, 
I Our neighbour's muft part with their colonies too ; 
Let them laugh and be merry, and make us their jefi:. 
When La Plata revolts, we will laugh with the reft — 

'Tis true that the journey to caftle St. Juan 
Was a projeft that brought the projectors to ruin ; 
But ftill, my dear lords, I would have you refle6t, 
Who nothing do venture can nothing expert. 

If the Commons agree to afford me new treafures. 
My fentence once more is for vigorous meafures : 
Accuftom'd fo long to head winds and bad weather, 
i Let us conquer — or go to the devil together. 

[1782.] 



RIVINGTON'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. 



1 



CINCE life is uncertain, and no one can fay, 

How foon we may go, or how long we fhall ftay, 
Methinks he is wifeft who fooneft prepares, 
And fettles, in feafon, his worldly affairs : 

Some folks are fo weak they can fcarce avoid crying. 
And think when they're making their wills they are dying 
'Tis furely a ferious employment — but ftill. 
Who e'er died the fooner for making his will ? 

Let others be fad, when their lives they review, 

But I know whom I've ferv'd — and him faithfully too ; 

And though it may feem a fanatical ftory 

He often has fhow'd me a glimpfe of his glory. 

Imprimis, my carcafe I give and devife 
To be made into cakes of a moderate fize. 
To nourifh thofe Tories whofe fpirits may droop. 
And ferve the king's army with portable foup. 

Unlefs I miftake, in the fcripturcs we read 
That " worms on the dead fhall delicioufly feed," 
The fcripture ftands true — and that I am firm in, 
For what are our Tories and foldiers but vermin ? — 



RIVINGTON S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. I5I 

This foup of all foups can't be call'd that of beef, 
(And this may to fome be a matter of grief:) 
But I am certain the Bull would occafion a laugh, 
That beef-portable-foup fhould be made of a calf. 

To the king, my dear mafter, I give a full fett 
(In volumes bound up) of the Royal Gazette, 
In which he will find the vaft records contain'd 
Of provinces conquer'd, and vi6i:ories gain'd. 

As to Arnold, the traitor, and Satan, his brother, 
I beg they will alfo accept of another ; 
And this fhall be bound in Morocco red leather. 
Provided they'll read it, like brothers, together. 

But if Arnold fhould die, 'tis another affair. 
Then Satan, furviving, fhall be the fole heir ; 
He often has told me he thought it quite clever. 
So to him and his heirs I bequeath it forever. 

I know there are fome (that would fain be thought wife) 

Who fay my Gazette is a record of lies ; 

In anfwer to this, I fhall only reply — 

All the choice that I had was, to ftarve or to lie. 

My fiddles, my flutes, French horns and guittars* 
I leave to our heroes, now weary of wars — 

* Rivington's advertifements of liqueurs, mufical inftruments, fifliing-tackle, 
and various articles of ufe and luxury, which he kept in his ftore for the wants 
of the officers, are mingled with recommendations of the popular literature of the 



152 RIVINGTON S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. 

To the wars of the stage they more boldly advance, 
The captains (hall play, and the foldiers fhall dance. "^ 

To Sir Henry Clinton^ his ufe and behoof, 
I leave my French brandy, of very good proof ; 
It Vvill give him frefh fpirits for battle and {laughter 
And make \\\n\feel holder by land and by water : 

Yet I caution the knight, for fear he do wrong 
'Tis avant la v'lande^ et apres le poijfon^ — 
It will ftrengthen his ftomach, prevent it from turning, 
And digeft the affront of his effigy — burning. 

To Baron Knyphausen, his heirs and affigns,| 
I bequeath my old Hock^ and my Burgundy wines. 
To a true Heffian drunkard, no liquors are fweeter, 
And I know the old man is no foe to the creature. 

To a general, my namefake,§ I give and difpofe 
Of a purfe full of clipp'd, light^^fweated half joes \ 

day, in a farcical ftyle. He feems to have prided himfelf in particular on his 
fupply of " gcod fiddles." The advertifements, in fact, of the Royal Gazette, — 
a quaint prefentment of the times, — afford no fmall part of the amufement of the 
journal to readers of the prefent day. 

* It became faihionable at this period with the Britifh officers, to affume the 
bufinefs of the Drama, to the no fmall mortification of thofe v/ho had been hold- 
ing them up as the undoubted conquerors of North America. — Author" i -.iotc, Ed. 
1809. 

•j- Before fle/h and after fifh. — See Royal Gazette. 

J Baron William Von Knyphaufen, Lieutenant- General in the Britifh fervice, 
in command of the Heffian mercenaries, celebrated during the war about New 
Vork and the Jerfeys, where he was much engaged. 

§ General James Robertfon, a Scotchman, a native of Fifeihire, an old officer 



rivington's last will and testament. 153 

I hereby defire him to take back his trafn, 
And return me my Hannay's infallible wash. 

My chefTmen and tables, and other fuch chattels 
I give to CoRNWALLis, renowned in battles : 
By moving of thefe (not tracing the map) 
He'll explain to the king how he got in a trap. 

To good David Matthews'^ (among other flops) 
I give my whole cargo of Maredants drops, 
If they cannot do all, they may cure him in part, 
And fcatter the poifon that cankers his heart : 

Provided, however, and neverthelefs,- 

That what other eftate I enjoy and poflefs 

At the time of my death (if it be not then fold) 

Shall remain to the Tories, to have and to hold. 

As 1 thus have bequeath'd them both carcafe and fleece, 
The leaft they can do is to wait my deceafe ; 
But to give them what fubftance I have, ere I die. 
And be eat up with vermin, while living — not I — 



of the army in America who had refided in New York previous to the Revo- 
lution, and was governor of the city during its occupation by the Britifh. In 
1780, Lieutenant-General James Robertfon was a member of the commiflion 
lent by Sir Henry Clinton from New York up the Hudfon, to intercede with 
Wafhingtcn for the life of Andre. Robertfon was met at Dobb's Ferry by 
Greene, when the conference proceeded between the two, the former urging a 
leconfideration of the cafe w^ith great earneftnefs. 

* David Matthews was mayor of New York during the time the city v/as 
held by the Britifh, in the Revolution. 



134 RIVINGTON o LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. 

In WITNESS whereof (though no ailment I feel) 
Hereunto I fet both my hand and my feal ; 
(As the law fays) in prefence of witnefTes twain, 
'Squire 'John Coghill Knap^ and brother Hugh Gaine. 

[1782.] 

* " Knapp," fays Dawfon, in a note to " New York City during the Revolu- 
tion," was " a notorious pettifogger, a convidl who had fled from England for his 
own benefit." 



THE POLITICAL BALANCE ; OR, THE FATES OF 
BRITAIN AND AMERICA COMPARED. 

A TALE. 

Deciding Fates, in Homer's ftile, I fliew, 

And bring contending Gods once more to view. 

A S Jove the Olympian (who both I and you kno^, 
Was brother to Neptune, and hufband to Juno) 
Was lately reviewing his papers of ftate, 
He happen'd to light on the records of Fate 

In Alphabet order this volume was written — 
So he open'd at B, for the article Britain — 
She ftruggles fo well, faid the god, I will fee 
What the fifters in Pluto's dominions decree. 

And, firft, on the top of a column, he read 

" Of a king, with a mighty foft place in his head, 

" Who fhould join in his temper the afs and the mule, 

" The third of his name, and by far the worft fool : 

" His reign fhall be famous for multiplication, 
" The fire and the king of a whelp generation : 



156 THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 

" But fuch is the will and the purpofe of fate, 

" For each child he begets, he fhall forfeit a State : 

" In the courfe of events, he (hall find to his coft 
" That he cannot regain what he foolifhly loft ; 
"Of the nations around he fhall be the derifion, 
" And know, by experience, the Rule of Divifion." 

So Jupiter read — a god of firft rank — 
And ftill had read on — but he came to a blank : 
For the Fates had neglected the reft to reveal — 
They either forgot it, or chofe to conceal : 

When a leaf is torn out, or a blot on a page 
That pleafes our fancy, we fly in a rage — 
So, curious to know what the Fates would fay next. 
No wonder if Jove, difappointed, was vext. 

But ftill, as true genius not frequently fails, 

He glanc'd at the Virgin^ and thought of the Scales ; 

And faid, " To determine the will of the Fates, 

" One fcale ftiall weigh Britain^ the other the States.'' 

Then turning to Vulcan, his maker of thunder. 
Said he, " My dear Vulcan, I pray you look yonder, 
" Thofe creatures are tearing each other to pieces, 
" And inftead of abating, the carnage increafes. 

" Now, as you are a blackfmith, and lufty ftout ham-eater, 
" You muft make me a globe of a fliorter diameter ; 



THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 1 57 

" The world in abridgment, and juft as it ftands 
" With all its proportions of waters and lands ; 

" But its various divifions muft fo be defign'd, 

" That I can unhinge it whene'er I've a mind — 

" How elfe fhould I know what the portions will weigh, 

" Or which of the combatants carry the day ?" 

Old Vulcan comply'd, (we've no reafon to doubt it) 
So he put on his apron and ftraight went about it — 
Made center, and circles as round as a pancake. 
And here the Pacific, and there the Atlantic. 

An axis he hammer'd, whofe ends were the poles, 
(On which the whole body perpetually rolls) 
A brazen meridian he added to thefe. 
Where four times repeated were ninety degrees. 

I am fure you had laugh'd to have feen his droll attitude, 
When he bent round the furface the circles of latitude, 
The zones, and the tropics, meridians, equator. 
And other fine things that are drawn on fait water. 

Away to the fouthward (inftru6led by Pallas) 
He plac'd in the ocean the Terra Auftralis, 
New Holland, New Guinea, and fo of the reft — 
America lay by herfelf in the weft : 

From the regions where winter eternally reigns, 
To the climes of Peru he extended her plains ; 



158 THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 

Dark groves, and the zones did her bofom adorn, 
And the Crofiers^"^ new burnifh'd, he hung at Cape Ho) 1. 

The weight of two oceans fhe bore on her fides, 
With all their convulfions of tempefts and tides ; 
Vaft lakes on her furface did fearfully roll, 
And the ice from her rivers furrounded the pole. 

Then Europe and Afia he northward extended. 
Where under the Ar6lic with Zembla they ended ; 
(The length of thefe regions he took with his garters, 
Including Siberia, the land of the Tartars). 

In the African clime (where the cocoa-nut tree grows) 
He laid down the defarts, and even the Negroes, 
The (hores by the waves of four oceans embrac'd, 
And elephants ftrolling about in the wafte. 

In forming Eaft India, he had a wide fcope, 
Beginning his work at the cape of Good Hope j 
Then eaftward of that he continued his plan, 
*Till he came to the empire and ifles of Japan. 

Adjacent to Europe he ftruck up an ifland, 
(One part of it low, but the other was high land) 
With many a comical creature upon it. 
And one wore a hat, and another a bonnet. 

* Stars, in the form of a crofs, which mark the South Pole in fouthern lati- 
tudes. 



THE POLITICAL BALANCE. I CQ 

Like emmlts or ants in a fine fummer's day, 
They ever were marching in battle array, 
Or fkipping about on the face of the brine, 
Like witches in egg-fhells (their fhips of the line). 

Thefe poor little creatures were all in a flame. 

To the lands of America urging their claim. 

Still biting, or ftinging, or fpreading their fails : 

(For Vulcan had form'd them with flings in their tails). 

So poor and fo lean, you might count all their ribs,* 
Yet were fo enraptur'd with crackers and fquibs. 
That Vulcan with laughter almoft fplit afunder, 
" Becaufe they imagin'd their crackers were thunder.** 

Due weftward from thefe, with a channel between, 
A fervant to flaves, Hibernia was feen, 
Once crowded with monarchs, and high in renown, 
But all (he retain'd was the Harp and the Crown ! 

Infulted forever by nobles and priefts. 
And manag'd by bullies, and govern'd by beafts, 
She look'd ! — to defcribe her I hardly know how, 
Such an image of death in the fcowl on her brow : 

For fcafFolds and halters were full in her view, 
And the fiends of perdition their cutlafles drew : 

* Their national debt being now above £aoo,ooo,ooo fterling. — Author^ note. 



l60 THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 

And axes and gibbets around her were plac'd, 
And the demons of murder her honours defac'd — 
With the blood of the worthy her mantle was ftain'd : 
And hardly a trace of her beauty remain'd.* 

Her genius, a female, reclin'd in the fhade, 
And, merely for mufic, fo mournfully play'd. 
That Jove was uneafy to hear her complain, 
And order'd his blackfmith to loofen her chain : 

Then tipt her a wink, faying, " Now is your time, 
" (To rebel is the fm, to revolt is no crime) 
" When your fetters are ofF, if you dare not be free 
" Be a flave if you will, but complain not to me." 

But finding her timid, he cry'd in a rage — 

" Tho' the doors are flung open, fhe ftays in the cage ! 

" Subfervient to Britain then let her remain, 

" And her freedom fhall be, but the choice\ of her chain.'' 

At length, to difcourage all ftupid pretenfions, 
Jove look'd at the globe, and approved its dimenfions. 
And cry'd in a tranfport — " Why ! what have we here ! 
" Friend Vulcan, it is a moft beautiful fphere ! 

" Now while I am bufy in taking apart 

" This globe that is form'd with fuch exquifite art. 



* This ftanza and the preceding are additions, from the edition of 1809. 
f "Length." — Ed. 1795. 



THE POLITICAL BALANCE. l6l 

" Go, Hermes, to Libra, (you're one of her gallants) 
" And afk, in my name, for the loan of her balance.'* 

Away pofted Hermes, as fwift as the gales. 
And as fwiftly return'd with the ponderous Scales, 
And hung them aloft to a beam in the air. 
So equally pois'd, they had turn'd with a hair. 

Now Jove to Columbia his fhoulders apply'd. 
But aiming to lift her, his ftrength (he defy'd — 
Then, turning about to their godfhips, he fays — 
" A BODY so VAST is not eafy to raife ; 

" But if you affift me, I ftill have a notion 
" Oxir forces^ united., can put her in motion, 
" And fwing her aloft, (tho' alone I might fail) 
" And place her, in fpite of her bulk, in our fcale ; 

" If fix years together the Congrefs have ftrove, 

" And more than divided the empire with 'Jove ,• 

" With a Jove like myfelf, who am nine times as great, 

" You can join, like their foldiers, to heave up this weight." 

So to it they went, with handfpikes and levers. 
And upward {he fprung, with her mountains and rivers ! 
Rocks, cities, and iflands, deep waters and fhallows. 
Ships, armies, and forefts, high heads, and fine fellows : 

" Stick to it !" cries Jove — " Now heave one and all ! 
" At leaft we are lifting '-one eighth of the hall l' 



l62 THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 

" If backward fhe tumbles — then trouble begins, 

" And then have a care, my dear boys, of your fhins !" 

When gods are determin'd, what project can fail ? 
So they gave a hard fhove, and fhe mounted the fcale ; 
Sufpended aloft, Jove view'd her with awe — 
And the gods'-'' for their pay^ had a hearty — huzza ! 

But Neptune bawl'd out — " Why Jove you're a noddy, 
" Is Britain fufficient to poife that vaft body ? 
" 'Tis nonfenfe fuch caftles to build in the air — 
" As well might an oyfter with Britain compare." 

" Away to your waters, you bluftering bully," 
Said Jove, " or I'll make you repent of your folly, 
" Is Jupiter, fir, to be tutor'd by you ? — 
" Get out of my fight, for I know what to do !" 

Then fearching about with his fingers for Britain, 
Thought he, " this fame ifland I cannot well hit on : 
" The devil take him that firft call'd her the Great : 
" If fhe was — fhe is vajily diminifh'd of late !" 

Like a man that is fearching his thigh for a flea. 
He peep'd and he fumbled, but nothing could fee ; 
At laft he exclaim'd — " I am furely upon it — 
" I think I have hold of a highlander's bonnet." 

* American Soldiers. 



THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 163 

But finding his error, he fald with a figh, 
" This bonnet is only the ifland of Skie !'"^ 
So away to his namefake the planet he goes, 
And borrow'd two moons to hang on his nofe. 

Thro' thefe, as through glafTes, he faw her quite clear. 
And in raptures cry'd out — " I have found her — (he's here ! 
" If this be not Britain, then call me an afs, 
" She looks like a gem in an ocean of glafs. 

' But, faith, (he's fo fmall I muft mind how I (hake her : 
" In a box I'll inclofe her, for fear I fhould break her : 
" Though a god, I might fufFer for being aggreflbr, 
" Since fcorpions, and vipers, and hornets pofTefs her ; 

\ " The white cliffs of Albion I think I defcry, 
I " And the hills of Plinlimmon appear rather nigh — 
" But, Vulcan, inform me what creatures are thefe, 
" That fmell fo of onions, and garlick, and cheefe ?" 

Old Vulcan reply'd — " Odds fplutter a nails ! 

" Why, thefe are the Welch, and the country is Wales ! 

" When Taffy is vext, no devil is ruder — 

" Take care how you trouble the offspring of Tudor ! 

" On the crags of the mountains hur living hur feeks, 
" Hur country is planted with garlick and leeks ; 

* An ifland on the north- weft of Scotland. 



164 THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 

" So great is hur choler, beware how you telze hur^ 
" For thefe are the Britons — unconquer'd by Caefar." 

" But now, my dear Juno, pray give me my mittens, 
" (Thefe infe6ts I am going to handle are Britons) 
" I'll draw up their ifle with a finger and thumb, 
" As the do6lor extra6ts an old tooth from the gum." 

Then he raisM her aloft — but to fhorten our tale, 
She look'd like a clod in the oppofite fcale — 
Britannia fo fmall, and Columbia fo large — 
A fhip of firft rate, and a ferryman's barge ! 

Cry'd Pallas to Vulcan, " Why, Jove's in a dream — 
" Obferve how he watches the turn of the beam ! 
" Was ever a mountain outweigh'd by a grain ? 
" Or what is a drop when compar'd to the main ?" 

But Momus alledg'd — " In my humble opinion, 
" You fhould add to Great Britain her foreign dominion, 
" When this is appended, perhaps fhe will rife, 
"And equal her rival in weight and in fize." 

" Alas ! (faid the monarch) your proje6t is vain, 
" But little is left of her foreign domain ; 
" And, fcatter'd about in the liquid expanfe, 
" That little is left to the mercy of France ; 

" However, we'll lift them, and give her fair play — " 
And foon in the fcale with their miftrefs they lay ; 



THE POLITICAL BALANCE. 165 

But the gods were confounded and ftruck with furprlfe 
And Vulcan could hardly believe his own eyes ! 

For (fuch was the purpofe and guidance of fate) 
Her foreign dominions diminifh'd her weight — 
By which it appear'd, to Britain's difafter, 
Her foreign pofleilions were changing their mafter. 

Then, as he replac'd them, faid Jove with a fmile — 
" Columbia fhall never be rul'd by an ifle — 
" But vapours and darknefs around her (hall rife, 
" And tempefts conceal her a-while from our eyes ; 

" So locufts in Egypt their fquadrons difplay, 
" And rifing, disfigure the face of the day : 
" So the moon, at her full, has a frequent eclipfe, 
" And the fun in the ocean diurnally dips. 

" Then ceafe your endeavours, ye vermin of Britain — 
(And here, in derifion, their ifland he fpit on) 
" 'Tis madnefs to feek what you never can find, 
" Or to think of uniting what Nature disjoin'd : 

" But ftill you may flutter awhile with your wings, 
" And fpit out your venom and brandifh your flings * 
" Your hearts are as black, and as bitter as gall, 
" A curfe to mankind — and a blot on the Ball." 
[4>r/7, 1782.] 



SIR HARRY'S INVITATION* 

/^OME, gentlemen Tories, firm, loyal, and true. 
Here are axes and fhovels, and fomething to do ! 

For the fake of our king. 

Come, labour and fing ; 
You left all you had for his honour and glory, 
And he will remember the fuffering Tory : 

We have, it is true. 

Some fmall work to do ; 

But here's for your pay 

Twelve coppers a day, 
And never regard what the rebels may fay. 
But throw off your jerkins and labour away. 

To raife up the rampart, and pile up the wall, 
To pull down old houfes and dig the canal. 

To build and deftroy — 

Be this your employ. 
In the day time to work at our fortifications. 
And fteal in the night from the rebels your rations ; 

The king wants your aid 

Not empty parade ; 

* Sir Henry Clinton, at New York, to the Refugees. 



SIR Harry's invitation. 167 

Advance to your places 

Ye men of long faces ^ 
Nor ponder too much on your former difgraces, 
This year, I prefume, will quite alter your cafes. 

Attend at the call of the fifer and drummer, 

The French and the Rebels are coming next fummer, 

And forts we muft build 

Though Tories are kill'd — 
Then courage, my jockies, and work for your king. 
For if you are taken no doubt you will fwing — 

If York we can hold 

I'll have you enroll'd ; 

And after you're dead 

Your names fliall be read 
As who for their monarch both labour'd and bled. 
And ventur'd their necks for their heef 2.n^ their bread. 

'Tis an honour to ferve the braveft of nations, 
And be left to be hang'd in their capitulations — 

Then fcour up your mortars 

And ftand to your quarters, 
'Tis nonfenfe for Tories in battle to run. 
They never need fear fword, halberd, or gun ; 

Their hearts fhould not fail 'em, 

No balls will aflail 'em. 

Forget your difgraces 

KnA Jhorten ^owr faces ^ 
For 'tis true as the gofpel, believe it or not. 
Who are horn to he hang d^ will never he Jhot, 



DIALOGUE, 

AT HYDE-PARK CORNER, (LONDON.) 

Burgoyne. 

T ET thofe, who will, be proud and fneer, 

And call you an unwelcome peer, 
But I am glad to fee you here : 
The prince that fills the Britifh throne, 
Unlefs fuccefsful, honours none ; 
Poor Jack Burgoyne ! — you're not alone. 

Cornwallis, 

Thy fhips, De GrafTe, have caus'd my grief — 

To rebel fhores and their relief 

There never came a luckier chief: 

In fame's black page it fhall be read, 

By Gallic arms my foldiers bled — 

The rebels thine in triumph led. 

Burgoyne. 

Our fortunes different forms afTume : — 

I call'd and call'd for elbow-room^ 

'Till Gates dlfcharg'd me to my doom ; 



DIALOGUE AT HYDE-PARK CORNER. 169 

But you, that conquer'd far and wide, 
In little York thought fit to hide, 
T^hefubje/^ ocean at your fide. 

Cornwallis. 

And yet no force had gain'd that pofl: — 
Not Waftiington, his country's boaft, 
Nor Rochambeau, with all his hofi:. 
Nor all the Gallic fleet's parade — 
Had Clinton hurried to my aid. 
And Sammy Graves been not afraid. 

Burgoyne. 

For head knock'd off, or broken bones, 
Or mangled corpfe, no price atones ; 
Nor all that prattling rumour fays. 
Nor all the piles that art can raife, 
The poet's or the parfon's praise. 

Cornwallis. 

Though I am brave, as well as you, 
Yet ftill I think your notion true ; 
Dear brother Jack, our toils are o'er — 
With foreign conquefi:s plagu'd no more. 
We'll flay and guard our native fliore. 



ON THE LATE 

ROYAL SLOOP OF WAR, GENERAL MONK, 

[FORMERLY THE WASHINGTONJ 

Mounting Six quarter deck Wooden Guns. 

TXT'HEN the Wafliington fhip by the EngHfh was beat, 

They fent her to England to fhew their great feat, 
And Sandwich ftraightway, as a proof of his fpunk, 
Dafli'd out her old name, and call'd her the Monk.* 

"• This Monk hated Rebels (faid Sandy) — 'od rot 'em, 
" So heave her down quickly, and copper her bottom ; 
" With the floops of our navy we'll have her enroll'd, 
" And mann'd with pick'd failors, to make h&v feel bold. 

" To fhew that our king is both valiant and good^ 

" Some guns fhall be iron^ and others be wood ; 

" And, in truth, (tho' I wifh not the fecret to fpread) 

" All her guns fhould be wooden — to fuit with his head." 



* General Monk, who was the moft adlive agent in reftoring Charles II. 
Author's note. 



BARNEY'S INVITATION. 

/^OME, all ye lads that know no fear, 
To wealth and honour we will fleer 

In the Hyder AH privateer, 

Commanded by brave Barney."^ 

She's new and true, and tight and found, 
Well rigg'd aloft, and all well found — 
Come and be with laurel crown'd. 
Away — and leave your laffes. 



I Accept our terms without delay. 

And make your fortunes while you may. 
Such offers are not every day 

Jn the power of the jolly failor. 



* The " Hyder All," or Ally, as fhe was popularly called, was a fmall mer- 
chantman, purchafed in the fpring of 1782 by the State of Pennfylvania, and fit- 
ted out, with the affiftance of funds furniflied by the merchants of Philadelphia, 
to free the Delaware of the marauding cruifers of the enemy. Lieutenant Jofliua 
Barney was fele£l:ed as her commander. He entered upon the fervice with fpirit. 
His action in the Delaware Bay with the Britiih floop-of-war General Monk, the 
brilliant firft-fruits of his appointment, on the 8th of April, is the fubjedl of the 
following poem. The General Monk had formerly been the American privateer 
General Wafhington ; fhe had been captured and her name changed by the 
Britifh. Her old name was now reftored. She was fubfequently employed by 
the General Government as a packet. 



172 barney's invitation. 

Succefs and fame attend the brave, 
But death the coward and the flave, 
Who fears to plough the Atlantic wave, 
To feek the bold invaders. 

Come, then, and take a cruifmg bout, 
Our fhip fails well, there is no doubt. 
She has been try'd both in and out. 
And anfwers expectation. 

Let no proud foes whom Europe"^ bore 
Diftrefs our trade, infult our fhore — 
Teach them to know their reign is o'er, 
Bold Philadelphia failors ! 

We'll teach them how to fail fo near. 
Or to venture on the Delaware, 
When we in warlike trim appear. 
And cruife without Henlopen. 

Who cannot wounds and battles dare 
Shall never clafp the blooming fair ; 
The brave alone their charms fhall fhare. 
The brave are their prote6tors. 

With hand and heart united all, 
Prepar'd to conquer or to fall. 
Attend, my lads, to honour's call. 
Embark in our Hyder Ali. 

* " That Britain."— Ed. 1786. 



barney's invitation. 173 

From an eaftern prince flie takes her name, 
Who, fmit with freedom's facred flame, 
Ufurping Britons brought to fhame, 
His country's wrongs avenging ; 

See, on her ftern the waving ftars — 
Inur'd to blood, inur'd to wars. 
Come, enter quick, my jolly tars. 

To fcourge thefe haughty Britons. 

Here's grog enough — then drink about, 
I know your hearts are firm and ftout ; 
American blood will ne'er give out. 
And often we have prov'd it. 

Though ftormy oceans round us roll. 
We'll keep a firm undaunted foul. 
Befriended by the cheering bowl. 
Sworn foes to melancholy : 

While timorous landfmen lurk on fhore, 
'Tis ours to go where cannons roar — 
On a coafting cruife we'll go once more, 
Defpifers of all danger ; 

And Fortune ftill that crowns the brave 
Shall guard us o'er the gloomy wave— 
A fearful heart betrays a knave , 
Succefs to the Hyder Ah. 



SONG, ON CAPTAIN BARNEY'S VICTORY OVER THE 
SHIP GENERAL MONK. 

/^'ER the wafte of waters cruifing, 

Long the General Monk had reign'd ; 
All fubduing, all reducing, 

None her lawlefs rage reftraln'd : 
Many a brave and hearty fellow 

Yielding to this warlike foe, 
When her guns began to bellow 

Struck his humbled colours low. 

But grown bold with long fuccefles. 

Leaving the wide wat'ry way, 
She, a ftranger to diftrefles, 

Came to cruife within Cape May : 
" Now we foon (faid Captain Rogers) 

" Shall their men of commerce meet ; 
" In our hold we'll have them lodgers, 

" We fhall capture half their fleet. 

" Lo ! I fee their van appearing — 

" Back our topfails to the maft — 

" They toward us full are fteering 
" With a gentle weftern blaft : 



CAPTAIN barney's VICTORY. I75 

" Ive a lift of all their cargoes, 

" All their guns, and all their men : 

" I am fure thefe modern Argo's 
" Can't efcape us one in ten : 

" Yonder come& the Charming Sally 

'' Sailing with the General Greene — 
"Firft we'll fight the Hyder Ali, 

" Taking her is taking them : 
" She intends to give us battle, 

^' Bearing down with all her fail — 
" Now, boys, let our cannon rattle ! 

" To take her we cannot fail. 

" Our eighteen guns, each a nine pounder, 

" Soon fhall terrify this foe ; 
" We fhall maul her, we fhall wound her, 

" Bringing rebel colours low." — 
While he thus anticipated 

Conquefts that he could not gain. 
He in the Cape May channel waited 

For the fhip that caus'd his pain. 

Captain Barney then preparing, 

Thus addrefs'd his gallant crew — 

" Now, brave lads, be bold and daring, 
" Let your hearts be firm and true ; 

" This is a proud Englifh cruifer, 

" Roving up and down the main. 



176 CAPTAIN barney's VICTORY. 

" We muft fight her — muft reduce her, 
" Tho' our decks be ftrew'd with flain. 

" Let who will be the furviver, 

" We muft conquer or muft die, 
" We muft take her up the river, 

" Whate'er comes of you or I : 
" Tho' ftie {hows moft formidable 

" With her eighteen pointed nines, 
" And her quarters clad in fable, 

" Let us baulk her proud defigns. 

" With four nine pounders, and twelve fixes 

" We will face that daring band ; 
" Let no dangers damp your courage, 

" Nothing can the brave withftand. 
" Fighting for your country's honour, 

" Now to gallant deeds afpire ; 
*' Helmfman, bear us down upon her, 

" Gunner, give the word to fire !" 

Then yard-arm and yard-arm meeting. 

Strait began the difmal fray. 
Cannon mouths, each other greeting, 

Belch'd their fmoky flames away : 
Soon the langrage, grape, and chain-fhot. 

That from Barney's cannons flew. 
Swept the Monk, and clear'd each round to} 

Kill'd and wounded half her crew. 



CAPTAIN BARNEY S VICTORY. I77 

Captain Rogers ftrove to rally : 

But they from their quarters fled, 
While the roaring Hyder Ali 

Cover'd o'er his decks with dead. 
When from their tops their dead men tumbled, 

And the ftreams of blood did flow, 
Then their proudeft hopes were humbled 

By their brave inferior foe. 

All aghaft, and all confounded. 

They beheld their champions fall, 
And their captain, forely wounded. 

Bade them quick for quarters call. 
Then the Monk's proud flag defcended. 

And her cannon ceas'd to roar ; 
By her crew no more defended. 

She confefs'd the conteft o'er. 

Come, brave boys, and fill your glafl^es, 

You have humbled one proud foe, 
No brave acSlion this furpafles. 

Fame fhall tell the nations fo — 
Thus be Britain's woes completed. 

Thus abridg'd her cruel reign, 
'Till (he ever, thus defeated. 

Yields the fceptre of the main. 



THE HESSIAN DEBARKATION. 

13 EJOICE, O Death ! Britannia's tyrant fends 

From German plains his myriads to our fliore ; 
The fierce Hibernian with the Heffian join'd — 

Bring them, ye winds, but waft them back no more 

To thefe far climes with (lately ftep they come, 
Refolv'd all prayers, all prowefs to defy : 

Smit with the love of countries not their own 
They come — alas ! to conquer, not to die. 

In the flow breeze I hear their funeral fong 

The dance of ghofts the infernal tribes prepare ; 

To hell's dark manfions hafte the abandon'd throng, 
Tailing from German fculls great Odin's beer. 

From dire Cefarea — forc'd thefe flaves of kings — 
Quick let them take their way on eagles' wings ; 
To thy flrong polls, Manhattan's ifle, repair. 
To meet the vengeance that awaits them there. 



THE NORTHERN SOLDIER, 

TN vain you talk of fruits and flowers, 

When rude December chills the plain, 
And nights are cold, and long the hours, 
To damp the ardour of the fwain ; 
Who, parting from his focial fire. 
All comfort muft forego, 
And here, and there, 
And every where 
Purfue the invading foe. 

But we muft fleep in frofts and fnows ; 
No feafon breaks up our campaign : 
Hard as the oaks, we dare oppofe 
The autumnal, or the wintry reign. 
AHke to us, the winds that blow 
In Summer's feafon gay, 
Or thofe that rave 
On Hudfon's wave. 
And drift his ice away. 

Traitors and death may cloud our fcene. 
The ball may pierce, the cold may kill, 



l80 THE NORTHERN SOLDIER. 

And dire misfortunes Intervene : 
But Freedom fhall be potent, ftill, 
To drive thefe Britons from our ftiore, 
Who, cruel and unkind, 
With flavifh chain 
Attempt, in vain, 
Our free-born Hmbs to bind. 



TRUTH ANTICIPATED. 

^IT^H AT brilliant events have of late come to pafs, 

No lefs than the capture of Monfieur de Grasse !* 
His Majefty's Printer has told it for true, 
As we had it from him, fo we give it to you. 

Many folks of difcernment the ftory believ'd, 
And the devil himfelf it at lirft had deceiv'd. 



* Admiral Rodney's decifive engagement with the French fleet, under the 
Count de GrafTe, was fought off the ifland of Martinique, April 12, 1782. The 
battle lafted from feven in the morning till evening, when the action ended in 
the utter defeat of the French. Rodney, in the Formidable, engaged the Villa 
de Paris, the flag-fliip of De Grafle, and forced her furrender. De Graffe was 
taken to England a prifoner of war. For this diftinguifhed fervice, Rodney was 
raifed to the peerage. 

Sir George Rodney's " Letter on his late glorious viftory over the French fleet 
in the Weft Indies," appeared in Rivington's Gazette of May 15, 178a. It was 
addreffed to Mr. Charles Kerr, at Antigua, on the 1 8th of April, and read: 
" The French fleet, after an adlion that lafted from feven in the morning till 
funfet, on the 12th of April, 1782, met with a total defeat. The Ville de Paris, 
with four other fhips taken and the Diadem funk, graced the vidlory, and their 
whole fleet fo extremely fliattered, that had there been but two hours more day- 
light, more than half would have been taken. Two hundred and thirty Britifh 
killed, Ccv&n hundred and fifty-nine wounded. I would have compounded for 
three thoufand at leaft; the French muft have loft many more than five thou- 
fand. Their whole army was on board." The following French fliips were 
taken: La Ville de Paris, 110 ; Le Glorieux, 74 j Le Caefar, 74; Le Heftor, 
74 J L* Ardent, 645 Le Diadem, 74, funk. 



152 TRUTH ANTICIPATED. 

Had It not been that Satan Imported the ftufF, 
And fign'd It George Rodney^ by way of high proof. 

Said Satan to 'Jemmy ^ " Let's give them the whappers — 
" Some news I have got that will bring in the coppers, 
" And truth It fhall be, though I pafs it for //Vj, 
"• And making a page of your Newfpaper fize. 

" A wide field is open to favour my plan, 
" And the rebels may prove that I lie — If they can ; 
" Since they jefted and laugh'd at our lying before, 
" Let it pafs for a lie, to torment them the more. — 

" My wings are yet wet with the Weft-India dew, 
" And Rodney I left, to come hither to you, 
" I left him bedevil'd with brimftone and fmoke, 
" The French in diftrefs, and their armament broke. 

" For news fo delightful, with heart and with voice 
" The Tories of every degree fhall rejoice ; 
" With charcoal and fulphur (hall utter their joy 
"'Till they all get as black as they paint the old Boy.'' 

Thus, pleas'd with the motion, each cutting a caper, 
Down they fat at the table, with pen. Ink, and paper ; 
In lefs than five minutes the matter was ftated. 
And Jemmy turn'd fcribe, while Satan dI6tated. 

" Begin (fald the devil) in the form of a Letter^ 
" (If you call it true copy^ 'tis fo much the better) 



TRUTH ANTICIPATED. 1 83 

" Make Rodney affert that he met the French fleet, 
" Engag'd it, and gave 'em a total defeat. 

" But the better to vamp up a ftiovi^ of reaHty, 

" The tale muft be told vi^ith circumftantiality, 

" What veflels were conquer'd by Britain's bold fons, 

" Their quotas of men, and their numbers of guns. 

" There's the VUle de Paris — one hundred and ten — 
" Write down, that George Rodney has kill'd half her men ; 
" That her hull and her rigging are fhatter'd and ftiaken, 
" Her flag humbled down, and her admiral taken : 

" Le Cefar^ 'tis true, is a feventy-four, 

" But the Ville de Paris was thirty-fix more ; 

" With a grey goofe's quill if that fhip we did feize on, 

" Le Cefar muft fall, or I'll know what's the reafon. 

" The next that I fix on to take, is the He^ior^ 
" (Her name may be Trojan, but fhall not proteft her) 
" Don't faulter, dear comrade, and look like a goofe, 
" If we've taken thefe three, we can take Glorieufe. 

" The laft mention'd ftiip runs their lofs up to four, 
" Le Diadem funk, fhall make it one more \ 
" And now, for the fake of round numbers, dear coufin, 
"Write Ardent^ and then we have juft half-a-dozen !" 

Jemmy fmil'd at the notion, and whifper'd, " O fy ! 
" Indeed 'tis a ftiame to perfuade one to lie" — 



184 TRUTH ANTICIPATED. 

But Satan replied — " Confider, my fon, 

" I am prince of the winds, and have feen what is done 

" With a conqueft Hke this, how bright we fhall fhine ! 

"That Rodney has izktn fix Jhips of the Line^ 

'*- Will be in your paper a brilliant affair ; 

" How the tories will laugh, and the rebels will fwear ! 

" But farther, dear Jemmy, make Rodney to fay, 

" If the fun two hours longer had held out the day^ 

" The reft were fo beaten^ fo baifted^fo tore^ 

" He had taken them ALL, and he knew not but MORE." 

So the partners broke up as good friends as they met, 
And foon it was all in the Royal Gazette ; 
The Tories rejoic'd at the very good news. 
And faid. There's no fear we Jhall die in our Jhoes. 

Now let us give credit to Jemmy, forfooth. 
Since once in a way he has hit on the truth : 
If again he returns to his pra6lice of lies. 
He hardly reflects where he'll go when he dies. 

But ftill, when he dies, let it never be faid 

That he refts in his grave with no verfe at his head ; 

But furnifh, ye poets, fome fhort epitaph. 

And fomething like this, that readers may laugh : 

Here lies a King's Printer, we needn't fay who : 
There is reafon to think that he tells what is true : 



TRUTH ANTICIPATED. 1 85 



But If he lies here, 'tis not over-ftrange, 
His prefent pofition is but a fmall change, 
So, reader, pafs on — 'tis a folly to figh. 
For all his life long he did little but lie. 

[1782.] 



ON SIR HENRY CLINTON'S RECALL. 

' I ^HE dog that is beat has a right to complain — 

Sir Harry returns a difconfolate man^ 
To the face of his mafter, the Lord's oil-anointed, 
To the country provided for thieves difappointed. 

Our FREEDOM, he thought, to a tyrant muft fall, 
He concluded the weakeft muft go to the wall ; 
The more he v^as flatter'd, the bolder he grew — 
He quitted the old world to conquer the new. 

But in fpite of the deeds he has done in his garrifon, 
(And they have been curious beyond all comparifon) 
He now muft go home, at the call of his king, 
To anfwer the charges that Arnold may bring. 

But what are the ads that this chief has atchiev'd ? — • 
If good, it is hard he fliould now be aggriev'd. 
And the more, as he fought for his national glory, 
Nor valued, a farthing, the right of the ftory. 

This famous great man, and two birds'"^ of his feather. 
In the Cerberus frigate came over together ; 

* Generals Howe and Burgoyne. 



i87 

But of all the bold chiefs that re-meafure the trip, 
Nor two have been known to return in one (hip. 

Like children that wreftle and fcuffle in fport, 
They are very well pleas'd as long as unhurt, 
But a thump on the nofe, or a blow in the eye, 
Ends the fray — and they go to their daddy and cry. 

Sir Clinton, thy deeds have been mighty and many, 
You faid all our paper was not worth a penny, 
('Tis nothing but rags,* quoth honefl Will Tryon, 
Are ra7s to difcourage the Sons of the Lion P) 

But Clinton thought thus — " It is folly to fight, 
" When things may by eafier methods come right, 
" There is fuch an art as counterfeit-ation — 
" And I'll do my utmoft to honour our nation ; 

" I'll (hew this damn'd country that I can enflave her, 

" And that by the help of a fkilful engraver, 

" And then let the rebels take care of their bacon, 



"We'll play them a trick, or I'm vaftly miftaken." 

But the project fucceeded not quite to your liking. 

So you paid off your arti/i, and gave up Bill striking ; 

But 'tis an affair I am glad you are quit on. 

Yet had surely been hang'd had you try'd it in Britain. 

* See his Letter to General Parfons. 



r88 ON SIR HENRY CLINTON'S RECALL. 

At the taking of Charlefton you cut a great figure, 
The terms you propounded were terms full of rigour, 
Yet could not forefee poor Charley's* difgrace. 
Nor how foon your own colours would go to the case. 

When the town had furrender'd, the more to difgrace ye, 
(Like another true Briton that did it at 'Statia) 
You broke all the terms yourfelf had extended, 
Becaufe you fuppos'd the rebellion was ended ; 

Whoever the tories mark'd out as a whig, 

If gentle, or fimple, or little, or big. 

No matter to you — to kill 'em and fpite 'em. 

You foon had 'em up where the dogs couldn't bite 'em. 

Then thinking thefe rebels were fnug and fecure. 
You left them to Rawdon and Nefbit Balfour ; 
(The face of the latter no mafk need be draw'd on. 
And to fifh for the Devil my bait fhould be Rawdon.) 

Returning to York with your fhips and your plunder. 
And boafting that rebels muft fhortly knock under. 
The firft thing that ftruck you as foon as you landed 
Was the fortrefs at Weft-Point, where Arnold commanded. 

Thought you, " If friend Arnold this fort will dehver, 
••'We then fhall be mafters of all Hudfon's river, 

* Cornwallis. 



ON SIR HENRY CLINTON's RECALL. 1 89 

"The eaft and the fouth lofing communication, 
" The Yankies will die by the A6t of Starvation.''^ 

So ofFyou fent Andre (not guided by Pallas) 
Who foon purchas'd Arnold, and with him the gallows j 
Your lofs I conceive than your gain was far greater, 
You loft a good fellow, and got a vile traitor. 

Now Carleton comes over to give you relief, 
A knight like yourfelf, and commander in chief. 
But the chief he. will get, you may tell the dear honey ^ 
Will be a black eye, hard knocks, and no money. 

Now with — " Britons, ftrike home !" your forrows difpel. 

Away to your mafter, and honeftly tell 

That his arms and his artifls can nothing avail. 

His men are too few, and his tricks are too ftale. 

Advife him at length to be juft and fincere ; 
Of which not a fymptom as yet doth appear. 
As we plainly perceive from his fending Sir Guy 
The Treaty to break with our gallic ally. 



SIR GUY CARLETON'S ADDRESS TO THE 
AMERICANS.* 

TJ^ROM Britain's fam'd ifland once more I come over, 

(No ifland on earth is in prowefs above her) 
With powers and commillions your hearts to recover ! 

Our king, I muft tell you, is plagu'd vs^ith a phantom 
(Independence they call it) that hourly doth haunt him, 
And relief, my dear rebels, you only can grant him. 

Tom Gage and Sir Harry, Sir William, (our boaft) 
Lord Howe, and the reft that have fcouted the coaft, 
All fail'd in their projects of laying this ghoft : 

So unlefs the damn'd fpe6tre myfelf can expel 
It will yet kill our monarch, I know very well, 
And gallop him off on his lion to hell. 

* Sir Guy Carleton, " Commander-in-chief of his Majefty's forces, and Com- 
miffioner for making peace or war in North America," to follow the announce- 
ment of Ri-vingtons Gazette^ arrived at New York, as the fuccefTor of Sir Henry 
Clinton, in the Ceres man-of-war. Captain Hawkins, on Sunday, May 5, 1782. 
He remained in the city till the concluiion of peace, leaving, with his troops, on 
the a5th of November of the following year. He was born in Ireland, in 1724. 
Previoufly to the American Revolution he had {ttn much fervice, having diftin- 
guifhed himfelf at the fieges of Louifburg and Quebec. He was wounded in 
1762, at the fiege of Havannah. In 1772 he was Governor of Quebec. He 
died in 1808. 



CARLETON S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICANS. I9I 

But I heartily wifli, that, inftead of Sir Guy, 
They had fent out a feer from the ifland of Skie, 
Who rebels, and devils, and ghofts could defy: 

So great is our profpe6l of failing at laft. 

When I look at the prefent, and think of the paft, 

I wifh with our heroes I had not been claffed ; 

For though, to a man, we are bullies and bruifers, 
And cover'd with laurels, we ftill are the lofers, 
'Till each is recall'd with his tory accufers : 

But the war now is alter'd, and on a new plan ; 
By negociation we'll do what we can — 
And I am an honeft, well-meaning old man ; 

Too proud to retreat, and too weak to advance, 
We muft flay where we are, at the mercy of chance, 
'Till Fortune fhall help us to lead you a dance. 

Then lay down your arms, dear rebels — O hone ! 
Our king is the beft man that ever was known, 
And the greateft that ever was ftuck on a throne ; 

His love and afFe6tion by all ranks are fought ; 
Here take him, my honies, and each pay a groat — 
Was ever a monarch more eafily bought .? 

In pretty good cafe, and very well found. 

By night and by day we carry him round ; 

He muft go for a groat, if we can't get a pound. 



t92 CARLETON S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICANS. 

Break the treaties you made with Louis Bourbon ! 
Abandon the Congrefs, no matter how foon, 
And then, all together, we'll play a new tune. 

'Tis ftrange that they always would manage the roaft. 
And force you their healths and the Dauphin's to toaft ; 
Repent, my dear fellows, and each get a poji : 

Or, if you object that one poJl is too few. 
We generous Britons will help you to two 
With a beam laid acrofs — that will certainly do. 

The folks that rebell'd in the year forty-five, 

We us'd them fo well, that we left few alive, 

But fent them to heaven in fwarms from their hive. 

Your noble refiftance we cannot forget, 

'Tis nothing but right we fhould honour you yet ; 

If you are not rewarded, we die in your debt. 

So, quickly fubmit, and our mercy implore. 
Be as loyal to George as you once were before. 
Or I'll {laughter you all — and probably more. 

What puzzled Sir Harry, Sir Will, and his brother, 

Perhaps may be done by the fon of my mother, 

With the Sword in one hand and a Branch in the other. 

My bold predeceflbrs (as fitting their ftation) 

At their firft coming out, all fpoke Proclamation \ 

'Tis the cuftom with us, and the way of our nation. 



CARLETON's address to the AMERICANS I93 

Then Kil-al-la-loo !— Shelaly, I fay ;— 

If we cannot all fight, we can all run av/ay — 

And further at prefent I choofe not to fay. 

[1782.] 



MODERN IDOLATRY, OR ENGLISH QUIXOTISM. 

AyTY native fhades delight no more, 
I hafte to meet the ocean's roar, 
I feek a wild rebellious fhore 

Beyond the Atlantic main : 

*Tis honour calls ! — I muft away ! — 
Nor eafe nor pleafure tempts my ftay, 
Nor all that Love himfelf can fay, 
A moment fhall detain. 

To meet thofe hofts that dare difown 
Allegiance to Britannia's throne 
I draw the fword that pities none, 
I draw their rebel blood ; 

Amazement fhall their troops confound 
When gafping, proftrate on the ground, 
My fword (hall drink from every wound 
A life deftroying flood ! 

The fwarthy Indian, yet unbroke. 
Shall bend his neck to Britain's yoke, 



MODERN IDOLATRY, OR ENGLISH QUIXOTISM. I95 

Or flee from her avenging ftroke 
To defarts yet unknown ; 

The Atlantic ifles fhall own her fway, 
Peru and Mexico obey, 
And thofe who yet to Satan pray 
Beyond the fouthern zone. 

For George the third I dare to go 
Through Etna's fire and Greenland's fnow. 
Where'er our kindred waters flow, 
The vaft unbounded main. 

In him true glory fhines complete, 
In him a thoufand virtues meet — 
'Twere heaven to die at George's feet. 
Could I that blefling gain ! 

For George the third I dare to fall. 
Since he to me is all in all — 
May he fubdue this earthly ball, 
And nations tribute bring ; — 

Yon' rebel States fhall wear his chain 
Where traitors now with tyrants reign — 
And fubjeit fhall be all the main 
To George our potent king. 

When honour calls to guard his throne. 
My life I dare not call my own — 



196 MODERN IDOLATRY, OR ENGLISH QUIXOTISM. 

My life I yield, without a groan, 
For him whom I adore : 

In endlefs glory he fhall reign — 
'Tis he fhall conquer France and Spain— 
Though I perphaps may ne'er again 
Behold my native fhore ! 

EPILOGUE 

'TIS fo well known 'tis hardly worth relating 
That men have worfliipp'd gods, though of their own crea- 
ting ; 
Art's handy work they thought they might adore. 
And bow'd to gods that were but logs before. 

Idols, of old, were made of clay or wood. 

And, in themfelves^ did neither harm nor good, 

A6ted as though they knew the good old rule, 

" Friend, hold thy peace, and you'll be thought no fool." 

Britons ! their cafe is yours — and link'd in fate 
You, like your Indian allies — good and great — 
Bow to fome frowning block yourfelves did rear, 
And worfhip wooden monarchs — out of fear — 



ON GENERAL ROBERTSON'S PROCLAMATION.* 

/^LD Judas the traitor (nor need we much wonder) 

Falhng down from the gallows, his paunch fplit afunder. 
Affording, 'tis likely, a horrible fcent 
Rather worfe than the fulphur of hell, where he went. 

* The following proclamation, dated New York, June 22, 1782, appeared in 
Rivington's Royal Gazette of the 26th of that month, furmounted by the Royal 
Arms : — " By His Excellency Lieutenant-General James Robertson, Governor 
of Neiv York, ©"c, &c. The Commander-in-Chief having fliown the great con- 
fidence he repofes in the Citizens of New York by trufting his Majefty's intereft 
there, to their Zeal, Loyalty, and Gallantry, I perfuade myfelf that every citizen 
will with alacrity claim his title to a fhare of the Militia duty ; that none may 
be deprived of this, and that thofe whofe zeal would lead them to appear when- 
ever called for, may not be called for too often, I think proper to declare : 

"That all perfons are to perform the Militia duty, excepting the Minifters of 
God's Word, his Majefty's Counfellors and principal fervants whofe avocations 
to religious and civil, neceflarily prevents their attendance on Military duties. 

" All perfons who from age or infirmity are unable to adl, may do duty by 
fubftitutes, providing thofe they offer are judged fufficient by the Colonel of the 
regiment, or commanding officer of the corps to which they belong. 

"If any of the Gentlemen of the learned profeffions find themfelves fo ufe- 
fully employed as to be induced to avoid the honour of appearing in perfon, they 
are fuppofed to be judges of the importance of their own time, and may aft by 
proper fubftitutes. 

" As no perfon deferves protedion in a place of which he refufes to contribute 
to the defence 5 every perfon who refufes to appear when fummoned to his Mili- 
tia duty is to be confined in the Main-Guard by the Colonel or commanding 
Officer of the corps to which he belongs, where he is to be kept till further 
orders." 



198 ON GENERAL ROBERTSON'S PROCLAMATION. 

So now this bra' chieftain, who long has fufpended 
And kept out of view, what his mafter intended, 
Burfts out all at once, and an infide difclofes, 
Difgufting the tories, who ftop up their nofes. 

The fhort of the matter is this, as I take it — 
New York of true Britons is plainly left naked. 
And their condu£l amounts to an honeft confeflion, 
They cannot depend on the run-a-way Heflian. 

In fuch a dilemma, pray what fhould they do ? 
Hearts loyal, to whom fhould they look but to You ? — 
You know pretty well how to handle the fpade. 
To dig their canals, and to make a parade ; 

The city is left to your valiant defence. 

And, of courfe, it will be but of little expence, 

Since there is an old fellow that looks fomewhat sooty 

Who, gratis^ will help you in doing your duty — 

" In doing our duty ! — 'tis duty indeed 
" (Says a Tory) if this be the way that we fpeed ; 
" We never lov'd fighting, the matter is clear — 
" If we had, I am fure, we had never come here. 

" George we own'd for our king, as his true loyal fons, 
" But why will he force us to manage his guns ? — 
" Who 'lift in the army or cruife on the wave, 
" Let them do as they will — 'tis their trade to be brave. 



ON GENERAL ROBERTSON'S PROCLAMATION. I99 

" Guns, mortars, and bullets, we eafily face, 

" But when they're in motion — it alters the cafe ; 

" To fkirmifh with Ruddies"'^ is all our defire — 

" For though we can murder^ we cannot Ji and fire. 

" To the ftandards of Britain we fled for protection, 
" And here we are gather'd, a goodly colleftion ; 
" And moft of us think it is rather too hard 
" For refufing to arm, to be put under guard ; . 

" Who knows under guard what ills we may feel ! — 
" It is an expreffion that means a great deal — 
" 'Mongft the rebels x\\^y fine 'em who will not turn out, 
" But here we are left in a forrowful doubt — 



" Thefe Britons were always fo fharp and fo fnifty 

" The rebels excufe you from ferving, when fifty, 

" But here we are counted fuch wonderful men 

" We are kept in the ranks, 'till we're four fcore and ten. 



" Kick'd, cufF'd, and ill-treated from morning 'till night- 
" We have room to conjecture, that all is not right : 
" For Freedom, we fled from our country's defence, 
" And freedom we'll get — when death fends us hence. 

" If matters go thus, it is eafy to fee 

" That as idiots we've been, fo flaves we fhall be j 



* Captain Huddy, an American captain, who, after capitulating in a block- 
houfe, was hanged by refugees, called new levies. — Author'^i note. 



200 ON GENERAL ROBERTSON's PROCLAMATION. 

" And what will become of that peaceable train 
" Whofe tenets enjoin them from war to abstain ? 

" Our city commandant muft be an odd (haver, 

" Not a fmgle exception to make in their favour ! — 

" Come, let us turn round and rehellioujly fing, 

" Huzza for the Congress ! — the de'il take the king." 

[1782.] 



ARNOLD'S DEPARTURE.* 

Mala foluta navis exit alite 
Fcrens olcntem Maevium, &c. 
._ Imitated from Horace. 

Tl^ITH evil omens from the harbour fails 

The ill-fated ftiip that v/orthlefs Arnold bears, 
God of the fouthern winds, call up thy gales. 
And whiftle in rude fury round his ears. 

With horrid waves infult his vefTel's fides. 
And may the eaft wind on a leeward fhore 

Her cables fnap, while {he in tumult rides. 
And fhatter into fhivers every oar. 

And let the north wind to her ruin hafte. 

With fuch a rage, as when from mountains high 

He rends the tall oak with his weighty blaft. 
And ruin fpreads, where'er his forces fly. 

May not one friendly ftar that night be feen ; 
No Moon, attendant, dart one glimmering ray, 

* General Arnold failed from New York, with his family, in December, 1781. 
He furvived in England for nearly twenty years, dying in London in 1801, at the 
age of fixty-one. 



202 ARNOLD S DEPARTURE. 

Nor may (he ride on oceans more ferene 

Than Greece, triumphant, found that ftormy day, 

When angry Pallas fpent her rage no more 
On vanquifh'd Ilium, then in afhes laid, 

But turn'd it on the barque that Ajax bore,* 
Avenging thus her temple, and the maid. 

When tofs'd upon the vaft Atlantic main 

Your groaning fhip the fouthern gales (hall tear. 

How will your Tailors fweat, and you complain 
And meanly howl to Jove, that will not hear ! 

But if, at laft, upon fome winding ftiore 
A prey to hungry cormorants you lie, 

A wanton goat to every ftormy power,f 
And a fat lamb, in facrifice, (hall die. J 
ID.^c, 1782.] 

* Ajax the younger, fon of Oileus, king of the Locrians. He debauched 
Caflandra in the temple of Pallas, which was the caufe of his misfortune, on his 
return from the fiege of Troy. — Author^s note. 

^ The Tcmpejis were GoddefTes amongft the Romans. — Author''s r.ote 
J This is a clever imitation of Horace's Tenth Epode, "In Maevium poetam," 
the foul fatirift whom Virgil has commemorated with Bavius. Freneau's ren- 
dering is quite fkilful, and fhows his fcholar's appreciation of the original. The 
reader may be plcafed to compare it with Theodore Martin's recent diredl verfion 

of the ode : — 

Foul fall the day, when from the bay 

The veflel puts to fea, 
That carries Maevius away. 

That wretch unfavoury ! 

Mind, Aufter, with appalling roar 

That you her timbers fcourge ; 
Black Eurus, fnap each rope and oar 

'Vith the o'ertoppling furgc ! 



ARNOLD S DEPARTURE. 2O3 

Rife, Aquilo, as when the far 

High mountain-oaks ye rend ; 
When ftern Orion fets, no ftar 

Its friendly luftre lend ! 

Seethe, ocean, as when Pallas turn'd 

Her wrath from blazing Troy 
On impious Ajax' bark, and fpurn'd 

The vi£tors in their joy ! 

I fee them now, your wretched crew. 

All toiling might and main, 
And you, with blue and death-like hue. 

Imploring Jove in vain ! 

*' Mercy, O Mercy ! fparc me, pray !" 

With craven moan ye call. 
When founders in the Ionian bay 

Your bark before the fquall : 

But if your corpfe a banquet forms 

For fea-birds, I'll devote 
Unto the powers that rule the ftorms 

A lamb and iiquorifh goat. 



A PICTURE OF THE TIMES; WITH OCCASIONAL 
REFLECTIONS. 

OTILL round the world triumphant Difcord flies. 

Still angry kings to bloody conteft rife ; 
Hofts bright with fteel, in dreadful order placM, 
And fliips contending on the watery wafte ; 
Diftrailing demons every breaft engage, 
Unwearied nations glow with mutual rage ; 
Still to the charge the routed Briton turns, 
The war ftill rages and the battle burns ; 
See, man with man in deadly combat join. 
See, the black navy form the flaming line ; 
Death fmiles alike at battles loft or won — 
Art does for him what Nature would have done. 

Can fcenes like thefe delight the human breaft ? — 
Who fees with joy humanity diftreft ; 
Such tragic fcenes fierce paffion might prolong, 
But flighted Reafon fays, they muft be wrong. 

Curs'd be the day, how bright foe'er it ftiin'd. 
That firft made kings the mafters of mankind ; 
And curs'd the wretch who firft with regal pride 
Their equal rights to equal men deny'd ; 
But curs'd, o'er all, vv^ho firft to flavery broke, 



A PICTURE OF THE TIMES. 2O5 

Submiflive bow'd, and own'd a monarch's yoke : 
Their fervile fouls his arrogance ador'd 
And bafely own'd a brother for a lord ; * 

Hence wrath, and blood, and feuds, and wars began. 
And man turn'd monfter to his fellow-man. 

Not fo that age of innocence and eafe 
When men, yet focial, knew no ills like thefe ; 
Then dormant yet, Ambition (half unknown) 
No rival murder'd to poflefs a throne ; 
No feas to guard, no empires to defend — 
Of fome fmall tribe the father and the friend. 
The hoary fage beneath his fylvan fhade 
Impos'd no laws but thofe which reafon made ; 
On peace, not war ; on good, not ill, intent. 
He judg'd his brethren by their own confent ; 
Untaught to fpurn thofe brethren to the duft ; 
In virtue firm, and obftinately juft. 
For him no navies rov'd from fhore to fhore. 
No flaves were doom'd to dig the glitt'ring ore ; 
Remote from all the vain parade of ftate. 
No flaves in fcarlet faunter'd at his gate. 
Nor did his breaft the angry paflions tear, 
He knew no murder, and he felt no fear. 

Was this the patriarch fage ? — Then turn thine eyes 
And view the contraft that our age fupplies ; 
Touch'd from the life, we trace no ages fled. 
We draw no curtain that conceals the dead ; 
To diftant Britain let thy view be caft. 
And fay, the prefent far exceeds the paft j 



206 A PICTURE OF THE TIMES. 

Of all the plagues that e'er the world have curs'd, 
Name George, the tyrant, and you name the worft ! 

What demon, hoftile to the human kind, 
Planted thefe fierce diforders in the mind ? 
All, urgM alike, one phantom we purfue. 
But what has war with human kind to do ? 
In death's black ftiroud our blifs can ne'er be found ; 
*Tis madnefs aims the life-deftroying wound, 
Sends fleets and armies to thefe ravag'd (hores. 
Plots conftant ruin, and no peace reftores. 

O dire Ambition ! — thee thefe horrors fuit : 
Loft to the human, fhe affumes the brute ; 
She, proudly vain, or infolently bold, 
Her heart revenge, her eye intent on gold, 
Sway'd by the madnefs of the prefent hour 
Lays worlds in ruin for extent of power ; 
That {hining bait, which dropt in folly's way 
Tempts the weak mind, and leads the heart aftray , 

Thou Happinefs ! ftill fought but never found. 
We, in a circle, chace thy fhadow round ; 
Meant all mankind in different forms to blefs. 
Which, yet pofleffing, we no more poflefs : 
Thus far remov'd and painted on the eye 
Smooth verdant fields feem blended with the fky, 
But where they both in fancied contact join 
In vain we trace the vifionary line ; 
Still, as we chace, the empty circle flies, 
Emerge new mountains, or new oceans rife. 

[1782.] 



PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY'S SOLILOQUY. 

[Occafioned by the Public Rejoicings in Philadelphia for the birth of the Dau- 
phin of France, fon to Louis XVI.] 

"pEOPLE are mad, thus to adore the Dauphin — 

Heaven grant the brat may foon be in his coffin — 
The honours here to this young Frenchman fhown, 
Of right, (hould be Prince George's or my own ; 
And all thofe wreathes, that bloom on Louis now. 
Should hang, unfading, on my father's brow. 

To thefe far fhores with longing hopes I came, 
(By birth a Briton, not unknown to fame) 
Pleafures to fhare that loyalty imparts, 
Subdue the rebels^ and regain their hearts. 

Weak, ftupid expectation — all is done ! 
Few are the prayers that rife for George's fon ! 
Nought through the wafte of thefe wide realms I trace. 
But rage, contempt, and curfes on our race, 
Hofts, with their chiefs, by bold ufurpers won. 
And not a bleffing left for George's fon ! 

Here on thefe ifles^ (my terrors not a few) 
I walk attended by an exil'd crew : 

* New York and the neighbouring iflands. 



208 PRINCE WILLIAM HENRy's SOLILOQUY. 

Thefe from the firft have done their beft to pleafe, 

But who would herd with fycophants Hke thefe ? 

This vagrant race, who their loft fhores bemoan, 

Would bow to Satan, if he held our throne — 

Rul'd by their fears — and what is meaner far. 

Have worftiipp'd William only for his star ! 

To touch my hand their thronging thoufands ftrove, 

And tir'd my patience with unceafing love — 

In fame's fair annals told me I fhould live, 

And, a fourth William, to late times arrive ; 

Muft Digby's royal pupil walk the ftreets. 

And fmile on every ruffian that he meets ; 

Or teach them, as he has done — he knows when — 

That kings and princes are no more than men ! 

Muft I, alas ! difclofe, to our difgrace. 
That Britain is too fmall for George's race ? 
Here in the weft, where all did once obey. 
Three ijlands only, now, confefs our fway ; 
And in the eaji we have not much to boaft. 
For Hyder Ali drives us from that coaft : — 
Yield, rebels, yield — or I muft go once more 
Back to the white cliffs of my native fhore ; 
(Where, in procefs of time, {hall go Sir Guy,^ 
And where Sir Harry has return'd to figh, 
Whofe hands grew weak when things began to crofs, 
Nor made one effort to retrieve our lofs) 
Oatmeal and Scottifti kale-pots round me rife, 

* Sir Guy Carleton, who had fucceeded Sir Henry Clinton at New York. 



PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY S SOLILOQUY. 2O9 

And Hanoverian turnips greet mine eyes ; — 

Welch goats and naked rocks my bofom fwell, 

And Teague ! dear Teague ! — to thee I bid farewell — 

Curfe on the Dauphin and his friends, I fay, 
He fteals our honours and our rights away. 
DiGBY ! — our anchors ! — weigh them to the bow. 
And eaftward through the wild waves let us plough : 
Such dire refentments in my bofom burn, 
That to thefe fhores I never will return, 
'Till fruits and flowers on Zembla's coafls are known, 
And feas congeal beneath the torrid zone ! 

[1782.] 



BEELZEBUB'S REMONSTi'ANCE. 

(On a late Rivingtonian Apology for Lyma ) 

XT'OUR golden dreams, your flattenng fchemes, 

Alas ! where are they fled, Sir ? 
Your plans derang'd, your profpe6i:s chang'd. 
You now may go to bed, Sir. — 

How could you thus, impell'd by fear, 
Give up the hopes of many a year ? — 
Your fame retriev'd, and foaring high 
In truth's refemblance feem'd to fly : 
But now you grow fo wondrous wife. 
You turn, and own that all is — lies. 

A fabric that from hell was rais'd, 
On which aftonifli'd rebels gaz'd. 
And which the world ftiall ne'er forget, 
No lefs than Rivington's Gazette, 
Demolifli'd at a Angle ftroke — 
The angel Gabriel might provoke. 

" That all was lies," might well be true, 
But why muft this be told by you ? 



BEELZEBUB S REMONSTRANCE. 21 1 

Great mafter of the fcheming head, 
Where is thy wonted cunning fled ? 
It was a folly to engage 
That truth henceforth Jhould fill your page ; 
When you muft know, as well as I, 
Your firft great obje6l is — to lie. 

Your fortune was as good as made, 
Great artift in the fibbing trade ! 
But now I fee, with grief and pain. 
Your credit cannot rife again : 
No more the favorite of my heart, 
No more will I my gifts impart. 

Yet fomething fhall you gain at laft 
For hes contriv'd in feafons paft — 
When prefling to the narrow gate 
I'll fhow the portal mark'd by fate. 
Where all mankind, as preachers fay, 
Are apt to take the wider way. 
And though the Royal Printer fwear. 
Will bolt him in, and keep him there ! 

Beelzebub. 

[1782.] 



THE REFUGEES' PETITION TO SIR GUY 
CARLETON. 

Humbly Sheweth^ 

'TpHAT your Honour's petitioners, Tories by trade, 

From the firft of the war have lent Britain their aid, 
And done all they could, both in country and town. 
In fupport of the king and the rights of his crown ; 
But, now to their grief and confufion, they find 
"The de'il may take them who are fartheft behind." 

In the rear of all rafcals they ftill have been plac'd 
And Rebels and Frenchmen full often have fac'd. 
Have been in the midft of diftrefles and doubt 
Whene'er they came in or whene'er they went out ; 
Have fupported the king and defended his churchy 
And now, in the end, muft be left in the lurch. 

Though often, too often, his arms were difgrac'd. 
We ftill were in hopes he would conquer at laft. 
And reftore us again to our fweethearts and wives. 
The pride of our hearts and the joy of our lives — 
But he promis'd too far ^ and we trufted too ?nuch^ 
And who could have look'd for a war with the Dutch ? 



THE REFUGEES PETITION. 213 

Our board broken up, and difcharg'd from our ftations, 

Sir Guy ! it is cruel to cut off our rations ; 

Of a projeft, like that, whoe'er was the mover, 

It is, we muft tell you, a fneaking manoeuvre ; 

A plan to deftroy us — the bafeft of tricks 

By means of ftarvation, a ftigma to fix. 

If a peace be intended, as people furmife, 

(Though we hope from our fouls thefe are nothing but lies) 

Inform us at once what we have to expe6l, 

Nor treat us, as ufual, with furly neglect ; 

Or, elfe, while you Britons are {hipping your freights. 

We'll go to the Rebels^ and get our ejiates. — 

SIR GU Y'S ANSWER. 

TXT'E have reafon to think there will foon be a peace, 

And that war with the Rebels will certainly ceafe; 
But, be that as it will, I would have you to know 
That as matters are changing, we foon may change too ; 
In fhort, I would fay, (fince I have it at heart) 
Though the war fhould continue, yet we may depart. 

Four offers in feafon I therefore propofe, 

(As much as I can do in reafon, God knows) 

In which, though there be not too plentiful carving, 

There ftill is fufficient to keep you from ftarving. 

And, firft, of the firft, it would mightily charm me 
To fee you, my children, enliji in the army^ 



214 SIR GUY S ANSWER. 

Or enter the navy^ and get for your pay 
A farthing an hour, which hftxpence per day — 
There's Hector Clackmannan, and Arthur O'Gregor 
And Donald M'Donald fhall rule you with vigour : 

If thefe do not fuit you, then take your new plan, 
Make your peace with the rebels (march off, to a man :) 
There rank and diftin6lion perhaps you may find 

And rife into offices fit to your mind 

But if ftill you objeft — I advife you to take a 
Farewell of New-York — and away to Jamaica. 



RIVINGTON'S REFLECTIONS.* 



'T^HE more I refle6l, the more plain it appears, 

If I ftay, I muft flay at the rifque of my ears, 
I have fo be-pepper'd the foes of our throne, 
Be-rebel'd, be-devil'd, and told them their own, 
That if we give up to thefe rebels at laft, 
'Tis a chance if my ears will atone for the paft. 

'Tis always the beft to provide for the worft — 
So evacuation I'll m.ention the firft : 
If Carleton fhould fail for our dear native fhore 
(As Clinton, Cornwallis, and Howe did before) 
And take off the foldiers that ferve for our guard, 
(A ftep that the Tories would think rather hard) 
Yet ftill I furmife, for aught I can fee. 
No Congrefs or Senates would meddle with me. 

* The firft part of this poem was republifhed in the Royal Gazette^ at Nev/ 
Vork, of December 14, 1782, with the following introdudtion : — "Mr. Riving- 
ton, having been applied to by many Gentlemen for a pleafant publication refpecS- 
ing himfelf, exhibited in the Philadelphia Freeman s Journal^ of December 4th, 
takes leave to copy it into this Day's Gazette, and affures the Author that a 
Column ihall at any time be moft cheerfully referved to convey that Gentleman's 
lively Lucubrations to the Public." The original publication of the " Reflec- 
tions" had the motto from Virgil: Inclufus poenam expe&at. 



2l6 RIVINGTON*S REFLECTIONS. 

For, what have I done, when we come to confider, 
But fold my commodities to the beft bidder ? 
If I ofFer'd to He for the fake of a poft, 
Was I to be blam'd if the king ofFer'd moft ? 

The King's Royal Printer ! — Five hundred a year ! 

Between you and me, 'twas a handfome affair : 
Who would not for that give matters a flretch 
And lie back and forward, and carry and fetch. 
May have fome pretenfions to honour Tin^ fame : — 
But what are they both but the found of a name. 
Mere words to deceive us, as I have found long fince, 
Live on them a week, and you'll find them but nonfenfe. 

The late news from Charlefton my mind has perplext, 
If that is abandon'd, — I know what goes next : 
This city of York is a place of great note, 
And that we fhould hold it I now give my vote ; 
But what are our votes againft Shelburne's decrees ? 
Thefe people at helm fteer us juft where they pleafe. 
So often they've had us all hands on the brink. 
They'll fteer us at laft to the devil, I think. 
And though in the danger themfelves have a fliare, 
It will do us fmall good that they alfo go there. 

It is true that the Tories, their children, and wives 
Have ofFer'd to ftay, at the rifque of their lives ^ 
And gain to themfelves an immortal renown 
By ALL turning foldiers, and keeping the town : 
Whoe'er was the Tory that ftruck out the plan, 
In my humble conceit, was a very good man : 
But our words on this fubjedt need be very i^vi — 



RIVINGTON S REFLECTIONS. 217 

Already I fee that it never will do : 

P'or, iuppofe a few fhips fhould be left us by Britain 

With Tories to man them, and other things fitting, 

In truth we (hould be in a very fine box. 

As well they might guard us with {hips on the ftocks, 

And when I beheld them aboard and afloat, 

I am fure I fhould think of the bear in the boat. 

On the faith of a Printer, things look very black — 
And what fhall we do, alas ! and alack ! 
Shall we quit our young princes and full blooded peers, 
And bow down to vifcounts and French chevaliers ? 
Perhaps you may fay, " As the very laft (hift 
" We'll go to New Scotland, and take the king's gift :" 

Good folks, do your will — but I vow and I fwear, 
I'll be boil'd into foup before I'll live there : 
Is it thus that our monarch his fubjefts degrades ? — 
Let him go and be damn'd with his axes and fpades : — 
Of all the vile countries that ever were known 
In the frigid, or torrid, or temperate zone, 
(From accounts that I've had) there is not fuch another; 
It neither belongs to this world or the other : 
A favour they think it to fend us there gratis^ 
To fing like the Jews at the river Euphrates, 
And, after furmounting the rage of the billows. 
Hang ourfelves up at laft with our harps on the willows : 
Ere I fail for that fhore, may I take my laft nap — 
Why, it gives me the palfy to look on its map ! 
And he that goes there (though I mean to be civil) 
May fairly be faid to have gone to the Devil. 



2i8 rivington's reflections. 

Shall I pufh for Old England, and whine at the throne ? 
Alas ! they have Jemmies enough of their own ! 
Befides, fuch a name I have got from my trade, 
They would think I was lying, whatever I faid ; 
Thus fcheme as I will, or contrive as I may, 
Continual difficulties rife in the way : 
In (hort, if they let me remain in this realm. 
What is it to Jemmy who ftands at the helm ? 
I'll petition the rebels (if York is forfaken) 
For a place in their Zion which ne'er fhall be fhaken ; 
I am fure they'll be clever : it feems their whole ftudy : 
They hung not young Asgill for old captain Huddy,^ 

* Irving thus tells the ftory of " Old Huddy :" — "A marauding New York 
refugee, in 1782, had been captured by the Jerfey people, and killed in attempt- 
ing to efcape from thofe who were conducing him to Monmouth jail. His 
partifans in New York determined on a fignal revenge. Captain Jofeph Huddy, i 
an ardent whig, who had been captured when bravely defending a block-houfe 
in Monmouth County, and carried captive to New York, was now drawn forth 
from prifon, condufted into the Jerfrys by a party of refugees, headed by a Cap- 
tain Lippencott, and hanged on the heights of Middletown, with a label affixed 
to his breaft, bearing the infcription, * Up goes Huddy for Philip White.' A 
popular outcry for retaliation enfued. Wafhington felt the neceffity for aftion, 
fubmitted the matter to a board of officers, and, in accordance with their deter- 
mination, demanded of Sir Henry Clinton, that Captain Lippencott or the officer 
who had ordered the execution fhould be given up. If this were not complied 
with, wrote Wafhington, *I fhall hold myfelf juflifiable in the eyes of God and 
man for the meafure to which I will refort.' Clinton declined to furrender 
Lippencott, but ftated that he had ordered an inveftigation into the circumftances, 
and would bring the perpetrator of the deed to trial. Wafhington, ftrengthened 
in his purpofe by a refolution of Congrefs, then ordered one of the Britilli off.cers, 
prifoners at Lancafter, Pa., to be chofen by lot for retaliation. The lot fell upon 
Captain Charles Afgill of the Guards, an amiable youth of nineteen, and the fon 
of a wealthy baronet. His lituation excited the fympathy of his brother Britifh 
officers, and their indignation at Clinton in fubjefting him to the penalty by not 
giving up the offender. One of their number. Captain Ludlow, was allowed to 



RIVINGTON S REFLECTIONS. 219 

And it muft be a truth that admits no denying, 

If they fpare us for murder they'll fpare us for lying. 

II. 

FOLKS may think as they pleafe, but to me it would feem, 
That our great men at home have done nothing but dream : 
Such trimming and twifting and fhifting about, 
And fome getting in, and others turn'd out ; 
And yet, with their bragging and looking fo big. 
All they did was to dance a theatrical jig. 

Seven years now, and more, we have try'd every plan, 
And are juft as near conquering as when we began. 
Great things were expefted from Clinton and Howe, 
But what have they done, or where are they now ? 
Sir Guy was fent over to kick up a duft. 
Who already prepares to return in difguji — 
The obje6l delufive we wifh to attain 

go to New York to reprefent the matter to Sir Guy Carleton, the new Com- 
mander-in-chief. Afgill, meanwhile, was courteoufly treated, but firmly detained 
to await the refult. Lippencott was finally tried by a court-martial, and acquit- 
ted, on the ground of having received verbal orders from Governor Franklin, 
prefident of the board of aflbciated loyalifts. The Britifli commander reprobated 
the death of Captain Huddy, and broke up the board.. Under thefe circum- 
ftances, Waihington, reludlant to prefs the penalty involved, admitted Captain 
Afgill on parole, and requefted the aftion of Congrefs to fet him at liberty. Lady 
Afgill, the mother of the youth, anxious for her fon's fafety, had, in the m.ean 
time, gained the ear of the French minifter, the Count de Vergennes, with a fup- 
plication for his interceffion, which, under the direction of the king and queen, 
was made. Wafhington laid the Count's application before Congrefs, which 
now took a favourable view of the matter, and Captain. Afgill, greatly to the 
relief of Wafhington, was releafed." — Irving's Life of JVaJhington^ iv. 394—7- 
Sparks's Lfe and Writings of Waf}:)ingtQn^ viii. 301, and sequel. 



220 RIVINGTON S REFLECTIONS. 

Has been In our reach, and may be (o again — 
But To oddly does heaven its bounties difpenfe, 
And has granted our king fuch a fmall fhare of fenfe 
That, let Fortune favour or fmile as fhe w^ill. 
We are doom'd to drive on, like a horfe in a mill, 
And though we may feem to advance on our rout, 
t 'Tis but to return to vv^here we fat out. 

From hence I infer (by way of improvement) 
That nothing is got by this circular movement ; 
And I plainly perceive, from this fatal delay. 
We are going to ruin the round-about way ! 
Some nations, like (hips, give up to the gale. 
And are hurry'd afhore with a full flowing fail ; 
So Sweden fubmitted to abfolute power. 
And freemen were chang'd to be flaves in an hour ; 
Thus Theodore foon from his grandeur came down, 
Forfaking his fubje^ts and Corfican crown ;'^ 

* Theodore Baron NewhofF, an enthufiaftic German military adventurer, who 
was proclaimed king of Corfica in 1736. After pafling eight months on the 
ifland, afluming various marks of royalty, he left his " kingdom" to folicit aid on 
the Continent ; but failed to carry his further fchemes of fovereignty into effeft. 
He ended his days in great poverty in London, where he was confined, not long 
before his death, which happened in 1756, as a prifoner for debt. Horace Wal- 
pole took an imaginative intereft in his fortunes, and wrote a very pleafant paper 
in the World (No. viii., Feb. 22, 1753) in his behalf, fuggefting a fubfcription 
for his relief. A confiderable fum was, in confequence, colledled for the fallen 
monarch. " How muft I blufh for my countrymen," writes Walpole, " when I 
mention a monarch ! an unhappy monarch, now adlually fufFered to languifh for 
debt in one of the common prifons of this city ! A monarch whofe courage 
raifed him to a throne, not by a fuccefiion of ambitious, bloody adls, but by the 
voluntary eledlion of an injured people, who had the common right of mankind 
to freedom, and the uncommon refolution of determining to be free ! This 
prince is Theodore, king of Corfica ! a man whofe claim to royalty is as indifpu- 



rivington's reflections. 221 

But we — *tis our fate, without ally or friend, 
To go to perdition, clofe hauPd to the wind. 

The cafe is too plain, that if I ftay here 
I have fomething to hope and fomewhat to fear : 
In regard to my carcafe, I (hould n't mind that — 
I can fay " I have liv'd," and have grown very fat ; 
Have been in my day remarkably ftiifty. 
And foon, very foon, will be verging on fifty. 
'Tis time for the ftate of the dead to prepare, 
'Tis time to confider how things will go there ; 
Some few are admitted to Jupiter's hall. 
But the dungeons'^ of Pluto are open to all — 
The day is approaching as faft as it can 
When Jemmy fhall be a mere moderate man, 
Shall rieep under ground both fummer and winter. 
The hulk of a man, and the fliell of a printer, 
And care not a farthing for George or his line. 
What empires ftart up, or what kingdoms decline. 

Our parfon laft Sunday brought tears from my eyes, 
When he told us of heaven, I thought of my lies — 
To his flock he defcrib'd it, and laid it before 'em, 
(As if he had been in its SanSium SanSiorum) 
Recounted its beauties that never fhall fade. 
And quoted John Bunyan to prove what he faid ; 

cable as the moft ancient titles to any monarchy can pretend to be; that is, the 
choice of his fubjedts ; the only kind of title allowed in the excellent Gothic 
conftitutions, from whence we derive our ownj the fame kind of title which 
endears the prefent royal family to Englifhmen; and the only kind of title againft 
which, perhaps, no objeftion can lie." 

* "But the kitchen of Pluto :s open to all." — Ed. 1795. 



222 RIVINGTON S REFLECTIONS. 

Debarr'd from the gate who the Truth fliould deny, 
Or " whofoe'er loveth or maketh a lie." 

Thro' the courfe of my life it has ftill been my lot 
In fpite of myfelf, to fay " things that are not," 
And therefore fufpect that upon my deceafe 
Not a poet will leave me to flumber in peace, 
But at leaft once a week be-fcribble the ftone 
Where Jemmy, poor Jemmy, lies fleeping alone ! 

Howe'er in the long run thefe matters may be, 
If the fcripture is true, it has bad news for me— 
And yet, when I come to examine the text. 
And the learn'd annotations that Poole has annex'd, 
Throughout the black lift of the people that fin 
I cannot once find that I'm mention'd therein ; 
Whoremongers, idolaters, all are left out. 
And wizzards, and dogs (which is proper, no doubt) 
But he who fays I'm there, miftakes or forgets — 
It mentions no Printers of Royal Gazettes ! 

In truth, I have need of a manfion of reft, 
And here to remain might fuit me the beft — 
Philadelphia in fome things would anfwer as v/ell, 
(Some Tories are there, and my papers might fell) 
But then I ftiould live amongft wrangling and ftrife, 
And be forc'd to fay credo the reft of my life : 
For their fudden converfion I'm much at a lofs — 
I am told that they bow to the wood of the crofs. 
And worfhip the reliques tranfported from Rome, 
St. Peter's toe-nails and St. Anthony's comb. — 
If thus the true faith they no longer defend 



RIVINGTON S REFLECTIONS. 



223 



I fcarcely can think where the madnefs will end — 
If the greateft among them fubmit to the. Pope, 
What reafon have I for indulgence to hope ? 
If the Congrefs themfelves to the Chapel did pafs,"^ 
Ye may fwear that poor Jemmy would have to fing mafs. 
[Dec. 1782.] 



* "On the 4th of November laft, the clergy and feledlmen of Bofton paraded 
*' through the ftreets after a crucifix, and joined in a proceffion in praying for a 
"departed foul out of Purgatory; and for this they gave the example of Con- 
"grefs, and other American leaders, on a former occafion at Philadelphia, fome 
"of whom, in the height of their zeal, even w^ent fo far as to fprinkle themfelves 
" with what they call Holy water.'" — Royal Gazette, of December 11, inft. 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 
G AI NE'S LIFE. 

City of New- York, Jan. i, 1783.* 

TO the Senate^ of York, with all due fubmiffion. 
Of honeft HUGH GAINEJ the humble Tetithn ; 
An Account of his Life he will alfo prefix. 
And feme trifles that happened in feventy-fix ; 
He hopes that your honours will take no offence, 
If he fends you fome groans of contrition from hence, 
And, further, to prove that he's truly fmcere, 
He wilhes you all a haffy New Tear. 

L 

A ND, firft, he informs, in his reprefentation, 

That he once was a printer of good reputation. 
And dwelt in the ftreet call'd Hanover Square, 
(You'll know where it is, if you ever was there) 

* The Brltifh army evacuated New York the November following, 
■j- The Legiflature of the State were at this time in feflion at Fishkill. 
J Hugh Gaine, a native of Ireland, commenced the printing bufinefs in New 
York in 1750. In 1752, he began the publication of the Neiv York Mercury^ 
a weekly newfpaper, which appeared every Monday. It was fubfequently enti- 
tled The Neiv Ttrk Gazette and the Weekly Mercury. In 1777, Gaine fet up th»? 
King's Arms in the title, in place of a figure of Mercury. ** During the political 
conteft with Great Britain," fays Thomas, in his " Hiftory of Printing," " the 
Mercury appeared rather as a neutral paper. Gaine feemed defirous to fide with 
the fuccefsful party; but, not knowing which would eventually prevail, he feema 
to have been unftable in his politics. After the war commenced, he leaned to- 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. » 225 

Next door to the dwelling of doctor Brownjohn, 

(Who now to the drug-fhop of Pluto is gone) 

But what do I fay — who e'er came to town, 

And knew not Hugh Gaine at the Bible and Crown. 

Now, if I was ever fo given to lie, 
My dear native country I wouldn't deny ; 
(I know you love Teagues) and I fhall not conceal 
That I came from the kingdom where Phelim O'Neale 
And other brave worthies ate butter and cheefe. 
And walk'd in the clover-fields up to their knees : 
Full early in youth, without bafket or burden. 
With a ftafF in my hand, I pafs'd over Jordan, 
(I remember my comrade was do6lor Magraw,"^' 
And many ftrange things on the waters we faw. 
Sharks, dolphins, and fea-dogs, bonettas, and whales, 
And birds at the tropic, with quills in their tails) 
And came to your city and government feat. 
And found it wasr true you had fomething to eat ; 
When thus I wrote home — " The country is good, 

ward the country. "When the Britifli army approached New York, in 1776, 
Gaine removed to Newark in New Jerfey, and there, during a few weeks, pub- 
lifhed the Mercury. Soon after the Britifh gained poffeffion of the city of New 
York, he returned and printed, under the proteftion of the King's armyj and, 
like Rivington, devoted his paper to the royal caufe. Gaine publifhed the Mer- 
cury until peace was establifhed, and it was then difcontinued, after an exiftence of 
about thirty-one years." 

In compliance with a petition to the State Legiflature, which is the fubjeft 
of Freneau's humorous poem, Hugh Gaine was permitted, at the clofe of the 
war, to remain in the city in peace. There he continued engaged in his bufinefs 
as a bookfeller, in which he enjoyed the reputation of great probity, till his 
death, in 1807, at the age of eighty-one. 

* A cynical and very eccentric phyfician. — Author'' s note. 
15 



226 POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 



" They have plenty of victuals and plenty of wood : 
" The people are kind, and, whate'er they may think, 
" I fhall make it appear I can fwim where they'll fmk 
" And yet they're fo brifk, and fo full of good cheer, 
" By my foul, I fufpect they have aKvays nev/ year, 
" And therefore conceive // is good to be here.'' 

So faid, and fo aded — I put up a prefs, 
And printed away with amazing fuccefs ; 
Negle6led my perfon, and look'd like a fright, 
Was bother'd all day, and was bufy all night. 
Saw money come in, as the papers went out. 
While Parker and Weyman^^ were driving about, 
And curfing, and fwearing, and chewing their cuds, 
And wiftiing Hugh Gaine and his prefs in the fuds : 
Ned Weyman was printer, you know, to the king, 
And thought he had got all the world in a ftring, 
(Though riches not always attend on a throne) 
So he fwore I had found the philofopher's ftone. 
And call'd me a rogue, and a fon of a bitch, 
Becaufe I knew better than him to get rich. 

To malice like that 'twas in vain to reply — 
You had known by his looks he was telling a lie. 

Thus life ran av/ay, fo fmooth and ferene — 
Ah ! thefe were the happieft days I had feen ! 
But the faying of Jacob I've found to be true, 
" The days of thy ferv^ant are evil and ^g\y !" 
The days that to me were joyous and glad. 
Are nothing to thofe which are dreary and fad ! 

* New-York Printers, before the Revolution. 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 227 

The feuds of the Stamp- A£i foreboded foul weather, 
And war and vexation all coming together : 
Thofe days were the days of riots and mobs, 
Tar, feathers, and tories, and troublefome jobs — 
Priefls preaching up war for the good of our fouls ^ 
And libels, and lying, and Liberty-Poles, 
From which, when fome whimfical colours you wav'd, 
We had nothing to do, but look up and be fav'd — 
(You thought, by refolving^ to terrify Britain — 
Indeed, if you did, you were damnably bitten) 
I knew it would bring an eternal reproach. 
When I faw you a-burning Cadwallader's* coach ; 
I knew you would fuffer for what you had done. 
When I faw you lampooning poor Sawney his fon, 
And bringing him down to fo wretched a level. 
As to ride him about in a cart with the devil.— 

II. 

WELL, as I predicted that matters would be — 
To the ftamp-ad: fucceeded a tax upon Tea : 
What cheft-fulls were fcatter'd, and trampled, and drown'd, 
And yet the whole tax was but three pence per pound ! 
May the hammer of Death on my noddle defcend. 
And Satan torment me to time without end. 
If this was a reafon to fly into quarrels. 
And feuds that have ruin'd our manners and morals ; 
A parfon himfelf might have fworn round the compafs, 

* Lieutenant-Governor Cadwallader Golden. 



228 POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 

That folks for a trifle fhould make fuch a rumpus^ 
Such a rout as to fet half the world in a rage, 
Make France, Spain, and Holland with Britain engage. 
While the Emperor, the Swede, the Rufs, and the Dane 
All pity John Bull — and run off with his gain. 
But this was the feafon that I muff lament — 
I firft was a v/hig with an honefl: intent ; 
Not a Rebel among them talk'd louder or bolder. 
With his fword by his fide, or his gun on his fhoulder ; 
Yes, I was a whig, and a whig from my heart, 
But ftill was unwilling with Britain to part — 
I thought to oppofe her was foolifh and vain, 
I thought fhe would turn and embrace us again, 
And make us happy as happy could be, 
^y renewing the aera of mild sixty-three : 
And yet, like a cruel undutiful fon. 
Who evil returns for the good to be done^ 
Unmerited odium on Britain to throw, 
I printed fome treafon for Philip Freneau, 
Some damnable poems reflecting on Gage, 
The KING and his council, and writ with fuch rage, 
So full of inve6live, and loaded with fpleen. 
So fneeringly fmart, and fo hellifhly keen. 
That, at leaft in the judgment of half our wife men, 
Alecto herfelf put the nib to his pen. 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 221, 

III. 

AT this time arofe a certain king Sears,* 
Who made it his ftudy to banifh our fears : 
He was, without doubt, a perfon of merit. 
Great knowledge, fome wit, and abundance of fpirit ; 
Could talk like a lawyer, and that without fee. 
And threaten'd perdition to all that drank tea. 
Long fermons did he againft Scotchmen prepare. 
And drank like a German, and drove away care. 
Ah ! don't you remember what a vigorous hand he put 
To drag ofF the great guns, and plague captain Vandeput^ 
That night when the hero (his patience worn out) 
Put fire to his cannons and folks to the rout, 
And drew up his fhip with a fpring on her cable ^ 

* Isaac Sears, a popular leader of the " Sons of Liberty," in New York, at 
the outbreak of the Revolution, and hence called " King Sears," from his au- 
thority and influence, was born in Connedlicut, in 1729. He was a fuilor in early 
life, and, when he appeared as an adlor in public affairs in New York, in 1765, 
as Chairman of the Committee of Correfpondence of the patriots of that period, 
was a merchant and fea-captain of that city. In Auguft, 1775, he was engaged 
with a number of citizens, among whom was Alexander Hamilton, then a flu- 
dent of Columbia College, in removing the cannon from the Battery at the foot 
of Broadway, while Captain Vandeput, in command of the j^fia in the harbour, 
fired upon the party and the city. The tavern of Samuel Fraunces, in Broad 
ftreet, the building in which Wafhington took leave of his officers at the end of 
the war, was, according to Freneau, flruck by a fhot. In the edition of 1786, 
the lines referring to this incident read : — 

" At firft we fuppos'd it was only a fham, 
Till he drove a round ball through the roof of black Sam ;"^ 

Fraunces being of a dark complexion. Sears, making a voyage to China aa 
fupercargo, after the war was ended, was, on his arrival at Canton, flruck with a 
fever, which there terminated his life in Odlober, 1785. 



230 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 



And gave us a fecond confufion of Babel^ 

And (what was more folid tlmnfcurrilous language) 

Pour'd on us a tempeft of round /hot and langrage ; 

Scarce a broadfide was ended 'till another began again — 

By Jove ! it was nothing but Fire aiuay Flannagan !'^ 

Some thought him saluting his Sallfs and Nancy's 

'Till he drove a round Jhot thro' the roof of Sam Francis. 

The town by his flafhes was fairly enlighten'd, 

The women mifcarry'd, the beaus were all frighten'd ; 

For my part, I hid in a cellar (as fages 

And Chriftians were wont in the primitive ages : 

Thus the Prophet of old that was rapt to the fky.^ 

Lay fnug in a cave 'till the tempeft went by, 

But, as foon as the comforting fpirit had fpoke, 

He rofe and came out with his myftical cloak) : 

Yet I hardly could boaft of a moment of r^/?, 

The dogs were a-howling, the town was diftreft ! — 

But our terrors foon vanifh'd, for fuddenly Sears 

Renew'd our loft courage and dry'd up our tears. 

Our memories, indeed, muft have ftrangely decay'd 
If we cannot remember what speeches he made, 
What handfome harangues upon every occafion. 
How he laugh'd at the whim of a Britijh Invafwn ! 

'•'- P — X take 'em, (faid he) do ye think they will come ? 
" If they ftiou'd — we have only to beat on our drum^ 
"And run up the jiag of American freedom.^ 
" And people will mujier by millions to bleed ''em ! 
*'^V^\\?it freeman need value fuch blackguards as thefe ! 

* A cant phrafe among privateerfmen. — Author'' s note. 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY 



231 



'' Let us fink in our channel fome Chevaux de fr'ife — 

" And then let 'em come — and we'll fhow 'em fair play — 

" But they are not madmen — I tell you — not they !" 

IV. 

FROM this very day 'till the Britijh came in, 
We liv'd, I may fay, in the Defert of Sin ; — 
Such beating, and bruifmg, 2.nA fcratching^ and tearing'. 

Such kicking, and cuffing, and curftng^ and-fwearing I 

But when7/;fj' advanc'd with their numerous fleet, 

And Washington made his noSiurnal retreat^^^ 

(And which they permitted^ I fay, to their fhame, 

Or else your new empire had been but a name) 

We townfmen, like women, of Britons in dread^ 

Miftrufted their meaning, and foolifhly fled ; 

Like the reft of the dunces I mounted my fteed. 

And gallop'd away with incredible fpeed. 

To Newark I haft en ed — but trouble and care 

Got up on the crupper and followed me there / 

There I fcarcely got fuel to keep myfelf warm. 

And fcarcely found fpirits to weather the Jlorm ; 

And was quickly convinc'd I had little to do, 

(The Whigs were in arms, and my readers were few) 

So, after remaining one cold winter feafon. 

And fluffing my papers with fomething like treafon^ 

And meeting misfortunes and endlefs difafters. 

And forc'd to fubmit to a hundred new majiers^ 

J thought it more prudent to hold to the one — 

* From Long Ifland. 



232 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 



And (after repenting of what I had done, 
And curfing my folly and idle purfuits) 
Return'd to the city, and hung up my boots. 

V. 

AS matters have gone, it was plainly a blunder, 
But then I expe6ted the Whigs muft knock under. 
And I always adhere to the fword that is longeft. 
And flick to the party that's like to be ftrongeft : 
That you have fucceeded is merely a chance, 
I never once dreamt of the conduct of France ! — 
If alliance with her you were promis'd — at leaft 
You ought to have fhow'd me your star in the eajl^ 
Not let me go off uninform'd as a beaft. 
When your army I faw without ftockings or fhoes, 
Or viduals — or money^ to pay them their dues, 
(Excepting your wretched Congreflional paper^ 
That flunk in my nofe like the fnufF of a taper, 
A cart load of which for a dram might be fpent all, 
That damnable bubble, the old Continental 
That took people in at this wonderful crifis. 
With its mottoes and emblems^ and cunning devices ; 
Which, bad as it was, you were forc'd to admire. 
And which was, in fa6l, the pillar of fire ^ 
To which you directed your wandering nofes, 
Like the Jews in the defert conducted by Moses) 
When I faw them attended w\X.\\ famiiie andy>^r, 
Diflrefs in their front, and Howe in their rear ; 
When I faw them for debt incefTantly dunn'd. 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 233- 

Nor a fhilling to pay them laid up in your fund ; 

Your ploughs at a ftand, and your fhips run afliore — 

When this was apparent (and need I fay more ?) 

I handled my cane, and I look'd at my hat, 

And cryM — " God have mercy on armies like that i" 

I took up my bottle, difdaining to ftay. 

And faid — " Here's a health to the Vicar of Bray^'' 

And cock'd up my beaver, and — ftrutted away. 

VI. 

ASHAM'D of my condu6t, I fneak'd into town, 
(Six hours and a quarter the fun had been down) 
It was, I remember, a cold frofty night. 
And the ftars in the firmament ghtter'd as bright 
As if (to aflume a poetical ftile) 
Old Vulcan had give them a rub with his file. 

'Till this curfed night, I can honeftly fay, 
I ne'er before dreaded the dawn of the day ; 
Not a wolf or a fox that is caught in a trap 
E'er was fo aftiam'd of his nightly mifhap — 
I couldn't help thinking what ills might befal me. 
What rebels and rafcals the Britifh would call me, 
And how I might fuffer in credit and purfe. 
If not in my perfon, which ftill had been worfe : 
At length I refolv'd (as was surely my duty) 
To go for advice to parfon Auchmuty :* 

* The Rev. Samuel Auchmuty, a graduate of Harvard College of the clafs of 
1742, fucceeded the Rev. Dr. Barclay as Redlor of Trinity Church, New York, 
in 1764. His fympathies with the old monarchy were decided. Sabine, in his 



^34 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY, 



(The parfon, who now I hope is in glory, 

Was then upon earth, and a terrible tory. 

Not Cooper himfelf, of ideas perplext. 

So nicely could handle and torture a text. 

When bloated with lies, thro' his trumpet he founded 

The damnable fin of oppofing a crown'd head) 

Like a penitent finner, and dreading my fate, 

In the grey of the morning I knock'd at his gate ; 

(No doubt he was vex'd that I rous'd him fo foon. 

For his worfhip was moftly in blankets till noon.) 

At length he approach'd in his veftments of black — 
(Alas, my poor heart ! it was then on the rack, 
Like a man in an ague or one to be try'd ; 
I ftiook — and recanted, and flobber'd, and figh'd) 
His gown, of it felf, was amazingly big, 
Befides, he had on his canonical wig, 



"Loyalifts of the Revolution," cites a portion of a letter by him to Captain Mon- 
trefor, chief engineer of Gage's army at Bofton, dated New York, April, 1775, in 
which he fays : " We have lately been plagued with a rafcally Whig mob here, 
but they have effedled nothing, only Sears, the king, was refcued at the jail-door." 
Auchmuty died in New York, in 1777. 

Myles Cooper, alluded to in the fame paragraph, v/as the Icyalift Prefident of 
King's College, New York, who, rendering himfelf obnoxious to the citizens by 
his advocacy of the royal caufe, was driven from the city in a popular commotion 
on the night of the lOth of May, 1775. He took refuge on board of a fhip-of- 
war in the harbor, in which he returned to England. The poet Trumbull, in his 
"M'Fingal," includes both thefe w^orthies in his enumeration of the "High 
Church Clergy " who were on the fide of the king : — 

" What warnings had ye of your duty 
From our old Rev'rend Sam. Auchmuty ? 
* * * * * 

Have not our Cooper and our Seabury 
Sung hymns, like Barak and old Deborah ?" 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 235 

And frown'd at a diftance ; but when he came near 
Look'd pleafant and faid — " What^ Hugh^ are you here ! 

" Tour hearty I am certain,^ is horribly harden' d^ 
'•''But if you confefs — your fm will be pardoned ; 
" In fpite of my preachments^ and all I could fay ^ 
" Like the prodigal f on ^ you wander'' d away^ 
" Now tell me\ dear penitent,, which is the befl^ 
" To be with the rebels,, purfu'd and diflrefi,^ 
'-''Devoid of all comfort,, all hopes of relief ^ 
" Or elfe to be here,, and partake the king's beef? 

''''More people refemble the fnake than the dove,, 
" And more are converted by terror than love : 
''''Like a JJ)eep on the mountains,, or rather a fwine,, 
" Tou wander' d away from the ninety and nine ; 
''''Awhile at the offers of mercy you fpurn'd,, 
''''But your error you faiv,, and at length have return' d; 
" Our mafier will therefore conftder your cafe,, 
''''And reftore you again to favour and grace,, 
" Great light fh all arife from utter confufion,, 
''''And rebels Jh all live to lament their delufton." 

" Ah, rebels ! (faid I) they are rebels indeed — 
" Chaflifement, I hope, by the king is decreed : 
" They have hung up hisfubje£is with bed-cords and halters, 
'' And banifh'd his Prophets,, and thrown down his altars. 
" And I — even I — while I ventur'd to ftay, 
" They fought for my life — to take it away ! 
" I therefore propofe to come under your wing, 
" A foe to REBELLION — a flave to the king." 



236 POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 

VII. 

SUCH folemn confeffion, in fcriptural ftyle, 
Work'd out my falvation, at leaft for a while j 
The parfon pronounc'd me deferving of grace, 
And fo they reftor'd me to Printing and Place. 

VIII. 

BUT days, fuch as thefe, were too happy to laft ; 
The fand of felicity fettled too fafl ! 
When I fwore and protefted I honour'd the throne 
The leaft they could do was to let me alone : 
Though George I compar'd to an angel above. 
They wanted fome folider proofs of my love ; 
And fo they oblig'd me each morning to come 
And turn in the ranks at the beat of the drum. 
While often, too often (I tell it with pain) 
They menac'd my head with a hickory cane. 
While others, my betters, as much were oppreft — 
But fhame and confufion (hall cover the reft. 

You, doubtlefs, will think I am dealing in fable 
When I tell you I guard an officer'* s Ji able — 
With ufage like this my feelings are ftung ; 
The next thing will be, I muft heave out the dung ! 
Six hours in the day is duty too hard. 
And RiviNGTON fneers whene'er I mount guard, 
And laughs till his fides are ready to fplit 
With his jefts, and his fatires, and fayings of wit : 
Becaufe he's excus'd, on account of his poft. 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 237 

He cannot go by without making his boaft, 
As if I was all that is fervile and mean — 
But fortune, perhaps, may alter the fcene. 
And give him his turn to ftand in the ftreet, 
Burnt Brandy fupporting his radical heat — 
But what for the king or the caufe has he done 
That we muft be toiling while he can look on ? 
Great conquefts he gave them on paper — 'tis true. 
When Howe was retreating^ he made him purfue : 
Alack ! its too plain that Britons muft fall — 
When, loaded with laurels — they go to the wall. 

From hence you may guefs I do nothing but grieve. 
And where we are going I cannot conceive — 
The wifeft among us a change are expefting, 
It is not for nothing, thefe fhips are collecting ; 
It is not for nothing, that Mathews, the mayor. 
And legions of Tories, for failing prepare ; 
It is not for nothing, that John Coghill Knap 
Is filing his papers, and plugging his tap ; 
See Skinner'^ himfelf, the fighting attorney, 
Is boiling potatoes to ferve a long journey ; 
But where they are going, or meaning to travel 
Would puzzle John Fauftus, himfelf, to unravel ; — 
Perhaps to Penobfcot, to ftarve in the barrens, 

* Cortlandt Skinner, the laft royal Attorney-General of New Jerfey, was author- 
ized, early in the war, to raife a corps of Loyalifts. Three battalions were organ- 
ized and officered, and called the New Jerfey volunteers ; but the enliftments 
were little over a thoufand men. He continued in command of the corps, with 
the rank of Brigadier-General. After the war he returned to England. — Sabine's 
Loyal ijisy ii. 306. 



238 POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 

Perhaps to St. John's, in the gulph of St. Lawrence ; 
Perhaps to New Scotland, to perifh with cold, 
Perhaps to Jamaica, like Haves to be fold ; 
Where, fcorch'd by the fummer, all nature repines, 
Where Phoebus, great Phoebus, too glaringly fhines, 
And fierce from the zenith diverging his ray 
Diftreffes the ifle with a torrent of day. 

Since matters are thus, with proper fubmiilion 
Permit me to offer my humble petition ; 
(Though the form is uncommon, and lawyers may fneer, 
With truth I can tell you, the fcribe is fincere) : 

IX. 

That, fince it is plain we are going away, 

You will suffer Hugh Gaine unmolefted to ftay, 

His fand is near run (life itfelf is a fpan) 

So leave him to manage the beft that he can : 

Whoe'er are his mafters, or monarchs, or regents. 

For the future he's ready to fwear them allegiance ; 

The crown he will promife to hold in difgrace : 

The Bible — allow him to ftick in its place, 

'Till THAT, in due feafon, you wifh to put down, 

And bid him keep (hop at the fign of the crown. 

If the Turk with his turban fhould fet up at laft here 

While he gives him protection, he'll own him his mafter, 

And yield due obedience (when Britain is gone) 

Though rul'd by the fceptre of Presbyter John. 

My prefs, that has call'd you (as tyranny drove her) 
Rogues, rebels, and rafcals, a thoufand times over. 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 239 

Shall be at your fervice by day and by night, 
To pubhfh whate'er you think proper to write ; 
Thofe types which have rais'd George the third to a level 
With angels — fhall prove him as black as the devil, 
To HIM that contriv'd him, a fliame and difgrace. 
Nor bleft with one virtue to honour his race ! 

Who knows but, in time, I may rife to be great. 
And have the good fortune to manage a state ? 
Great noife among people great changes denotes. 
And I {hall have money to purchafe their votes — 
The time is approaching, I'll venture to fay. 
When folks worfe than me will come into play. 
When your double fac'd people fhall give themfelves airs, 
And AIM to take hold of the helm of affairs, 
While the honefl: bold soldier, that fought your renown. 
Like a dog in the dirt, fhall be crufh'd and held down. 

Of honours and profits allow me a fhare ! 
I frequently dream of a prefident's chair ! 
And vifions full often intrude on my brain. 
That for me to interpret, would rather be vain. 

Bleft feafons advance, when Britons fhall find 
That they can be happy, and you can be kind. 
When Rebels no longer at Traitors fhall fpurn. 
When Arnold himfelf fhall in triumph return ' 

X. 

But my paper informs me it's time to conclude ; 
I fear my Addrefs has been rather too rude — 



240 



POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY. 



If it has — for my boldnefs your pardon I pray, 
And further, at prefent, prefume not to fay. 
Except that (for form's fake) in hajie I remain 
Your humble Petitioner— honeft— HUGH GAINE. 



ON THE DEATH OF COLONEL LAURENS.* 

CINCE on her plains this generous chief expir'd, 

Whom fages honour'd, and whom France admir'd ; 
Does Fame no ftatues to his memory raife, 
Nor fwells one column to record his praife 
Where her palmetto (hades the adjacent deeps, 
AfFe6lion fighs, and Carolina weeps ! 

Thou, who (halt ftray where death this chief confines, 
Revere the patriot, fubje6l of thefe lines : 
Not from the duft the mufe tranfcribes his name, 
And more than marble ftiall declare his fame 
Where fcenes more glorious his great foul engage, 
Confeft thrice worthy in that clofing page 



* Lieutenant-Colonel John Laurens was the fon of the eminent minifter, 
Henry Laurens, of South Carolina. He was educated in England j had ferved as 
aide to Wafnington, and diftinguifhed himfelf in the Maryland, Pennfylvania, and 
Rhode Ifland campaigns. He fubfequently ferved with General Moultrie in South 
Carolina. In 1780, he was employed on a miffion to the French Court for a loan 
and fupplies, in which he was fuccefsful. On his return, he gained frefh laurels 
at the fiege of YorJctown. Returning to his native South Carolina, he fell gal- 
lantly, at the early age of twenty-feven, in an engagement with a detachment of 
the Britifh garrifon from Charlefton, at the River Combahee, in Auguft, 1782. 
Alexander Hamilton was his intimate friend, and Waihington greatly admired 
him. 



242 ON THE DEATH OF COLONEL LAURENS 

When conquering Time to dark oblivion calls, 
The marble totters, and the column falls. 

Laurens ! thy tomb while kindred hands adorn, 
Let northern mufes, too, infcribe your urn. — 
Of all, whofe names on death's black lift appear. 
No chief, that perifh'd, claim'd more grief fincere. 
Not one, Columbia, that thy bofom bore. 
More tears commanded, or deferv'd them more ! — 
Grief at his tomb {hall heave the unwearied figh. 
And honour lift the mantle to her eye : 
Fame thro' the world his patriot name fhall fpread. 
By heroes envied and by monarchs read : 
Juft, generous, brave — to each true heart allied : 
The Briton's terror, and his country's pride ; 
For him the tears of war-worn foldiers ran. 
The friend of freedom, and the friend of man. 

Then what is death, compar'd with fuch a tomb. 
Where honour fades not, and fair virtues bloom, 
When filent grief on every face appears. 
The tender tribute of a nation's tears ; 
Ah ! what is death, when deeds like his thus claim 
The brave man's homage, and immortal fame ! 



ON THE DEPARTURE OF THE BRITISH FROM 
CHARLESTON. 

(December 14, 1 78 2.) 

"LTIS triumphs of a moment done ; 

His race of defolation run, 
The Briton, yielding to his fears. 
To other fhores with forrow fteers : 

To other fliores — and coarfer climes 
He goes, reflefting on his crimes. 
His broken oaths, a murder'd Hayne, 
And blood of thoufands, fpUt In vain. 

To Cooper's ftream, advancing flow, 
JJhley no longer tells his woe. 
No longer mourns his limpid flood 
DIfcolour'd deep with human blood. 

Lo ! where thofe foclal ftreams combine 
Again the friends of Freedom join ; 
And, while they ftray where once they bled, 
Rejoice to find their tyrants fled. 



244 ON THE DEPARTURE OF THE 

Since memory paints that difmal day 
When Britifh fquadrons held the fway, 
And circling clofe on every fide, 
By fea and land retreat deny'd — 

Shall fhe recall that mournful fcene, 
And not the virtues of a Greene, 
Who great in war — in danger try'd. 
Has won the day, and crufh'd their pride. 

Through barren wafles and ravag'd lands 
He led his bold undaunted bands. 
Through fickly climes his flandard bore 
Where never army march'd before : 

By fortitude, with patience join'd, 
(The virtues of a noble mind) 
He fpread, where'er our wars are known, 
His country's honour and his own. 

Like Hercules, his generous plan 
Was to redrefs the wrongs of men ; 
Like him, accuftom'd to fubdue. 
He freed a world from monfters too. 

Through every want and every ill 

We faw him perfevering ftill. 

Through Autumn's damps and Summer's heat, 

'Till his great purpofe was complete. 



BRITISH FROM CHARLESTON. 245 

Like the bold eagle, from the fkies 
That ftoops, to feize his trembling prize, 
He darted on the flaves of kings 
At Camden heights and Eutaw Springs. 

Ah ! had our friends that led the fray 
Surviv'd the ruins of that day. 
We fhould not damp our joy with pain, 
Nor, fympathifing, now complain. 

Strange ! that of thofe who nobly dare 
Death always claims fo large a fhare, 
That thofe of virtue moft refin'd 
Are fooneft to the grave confign'd ! 



But fame is theirs — and future days 
On pillar'd brafs fhall tell their praife ; 
Shall tell — when cold negleft is dead — 
" Thefe for their country fought and bled." 



ON THE BRITISH KING'S SPEECH, 

RECOMMENDING PEACE WITH THE AMERICAN STATES. 

/^ ROWN fick of war, and war's alarms, || 

Good George has chang'd his note at laft — 
Conqueft and Death have loft their charms ; 

He and his nation ftand aghaft 
To fee what horrid lengths they've gone, 
And what a brink they ftand upon. 

Old Bute and North ! twin fons of hell, 

If you advis'd him to retreat 
Before our vanquifh'd thoufands fell 

Proftrate, fubmiilive at his feet ; 
Awake once more his latent flame 
And bid us yield you all you claim. 

The Macedonian wept and figh'd 

Becaufe no other world was found 
Where he might glut his rage and pride, 

And by its ruin be renown'd ; 
The world that Sawny wifh'd to view 
George fairly had — and loft it too ! 



ON THE BRITISH KING S SPEECH. 247 

Let jarring powers make war or peace, 

Monfter ! — no peace fhall greet thy breaft : 

Our murder'd friends fhall never ceafe 
To hover round and break your reft ! 

The Furies fhall your bofom tear, 

Remorfe, diftraftion, and defpair 

And hell, with all its fiends, be there ! 

Curs'd be the fhip that e'er fets fail 

Hence^ freighted for thy odious fhore ; 
May tempefts o'er her ftrength prevail, 

Deftru6lion round her roar ! 
May Nature all her aids deny. 

The fun refufe his light. 
The needle from its object fly, 

No ftar appear by night ; 
'Till the bafe pilot, confcious of his crime, 
Dire6ts the prow to fome more christian clime. 

Genius ! that firft our race defign'd, 

To other kings impart 
The finer feelings of the mind, 

The virtues of the heart ; 
Whene'er the honours of a throne 

Fall to the bloody and the bafe, 
Like Britain's monfter, pull them down. 

Like his, be their difgrace ! 

Hibernia, feize each native right ! 

Neptune, exclude him from the main ; 



248 ON THE BRITISH KING's SPEECH. 

Like her that funk with all her freight, 
The Royal George^ take all his fleet, 

And never let them rife again : 
Confine him to his gloomy ifle. 

Let Scotland rule her half. 
Spare him to curfe his fate awhile, 

And Whitehead,* thou, to write his Epitaph. — 

[1783-] 

* At that time Poet-Laureat to the king of Great Britain — author of the exe- 
crable Birth- day Od^s — Author'' s note. 



MAN H ATTAN CITY. 

A PICTURE. 

"C^AIR miftrefs of a warlike State, 

What crime of thine deferves this fate ? 
While other ports to Freedom rife, 
In thee that flame of honour dies. 

With wars and horrors overfpread, 
Seven years, and more, we fought and bled : 
Seiz'd Britifh hofts and Heflian bands, 
And all — to leave thee in their hands. 

While Britifh tribes forfake our plains, 
In you, a ghaftly herd remains : 
Muft vipers to your halls repair ; 
Muft poifon taint that pureft air ? 

Ah ! what a fcene torments the eye ; 

In thee what putrid monfters lie ! 

What dirt, and mud, and mouldermg walls, 

Burnt domes, dead dogs, and funerals ! 

Thofe graffv banks, where oft I flood, 
And fondly view'd the palling flood ; 



250 MANHATTAN CITY. 

There owls obfcene, that day-light fhun, 
Pollute the waters, as they run. 

Thus in the eaft — once Afia's queen — 
Palmyra's tottering towers are feen ; 
While through her ftreets the ferpent feeds, 
Thus fhe puts on her mourning weeds ! 

Lo ! Skinner there for Scotia hails 
The fweepings of Cefarean jails : 
While, to receive the odious freight, 
A thoufand fable tranfports wait. 

Had he been born in days of old 
When men with gods their 'fquires enroll'd, 
Hermes had claim'd his aid above, 
Arch-quibbler in the courts of Jove. 

O chief, that wrangled at the bar — 
Grown old in lefs fuccefsful ivar ; 
What crowds of mifcreants round you ftand, 
What vagrants bow to thy command ! 

Long, much too long in York refide 
A race, that mortifies our pride — 
A race, that all mankind defames. 
And Nova-Scotia only claims. 

[1783-] 



I 



A NEW-YORK TORY'S EPISTLE TO ONE OF HIS 
FRIENDS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 

WRITTEN PREVIOUS TO HIS DEPARTURE FOR NOVA SCOTIA. 

T^ARK glooms the day that fees me leave this fhore, 

To which fate whifpers I muft come no more : 
From civil broils what dire difafters flow — 
Thofe broils condemn me to a land of woe 
Where barren pine trees fliade the dreary fteep, 
Frown o'er the foil or murmur to the deep, 
Where fullen fogs their heavy wings expand, 
And nine months winter chills the difmal land ' 
Could no kind ftars have mark'd a different way. 
Stars, that prefided on my natal day ? — 
Why is not man endued with power to know 
The ends and meanings of events below ! 
Why did not heaven (all other fense deny'd) 
Teach me to take the true-born Buckskin fide. 
Show me the balance of the wavering fates 
And fortune fmiling on thefe new-born States ! 

Friend of my heart ! — my refuge and relief. 
Who help'd me on through feven long years of grief, 
Whofe better genius taught you to remain 



252 A NEW YORK TORY S EPISTLE. 

In the foft quiet of your rural reign, 

Who ftill (lefpis'd the Rebels and their caufe, 

And, while you paid the taxes, damn'd their lav/s, 

And wifely flood fpe6lator of the fray 

Nor trufted George, whate'er he chofe to fay ; 

Thrice happy thou, who wore a double face. 

And as the balance turn'd, could each embrace ; 

Too happy Janus ! had I fhar'd thy art. 

To Ipeak a language foreign to my heart. 

And ftoop'd from pomp and dreams of regal ftate 

To court the friendfliip of the men I hate, 

Thefe drains of woe had not been penn'd to-day. 

Nor I to foreign climes been forc'd away : 

Ah ! George — that name provokes my keeneft rage: 
Did he not fwear, and promife, and engage 
His loyal fons to nurture and defend. 
To be their god, their father, and their friend-^^- 
Yet bafely quits us on a hoftile coast 
And leaves us wretched, where we need him moft. 
His was the part to promife and deceive. 
By him we wander and by him we grieve ; 
Since the firft day, that thefe diflentions grew 
When Gage to Bofton brought his blackguard crew, 
Amus'd with conquefts, honours, riches, fame, 
Pofts, titles, earldoms — and a deathlefs name. 
From place to place we urge our vagrant flight 
To follow ftill these vapours of the night, 
From town to town have run our various race. 
And a6led all that's mean, and all that's bafe — 



li 
I 



A NEW YORK TORY S EPISTLE. 253 

Yes — from that day until this hour we roam, 
Vagrants forever from our native home ! 

And yet, perhaps, fate fees the golden hour 
When happier hands fhall crufh rebellious power, 
When hoftile tribes their plighted faith fhall own 
And fwear fubje6tion to the Britifh throne, 
When George the fourth fhall their petitions fpurn. 
And banifh'd thoufands to their fields return. 

From dreams of conquefl, worlds, and empires won, 
Britain awaking, mourns her fetting fun, 
No rays of joy her evening hour illume, 
'Tis one fad chaos, one unmingled gloom ! 
Too foon fhe fmks unheeded to the grave. 
No eye to pity, and no hand to fave : 
What are her crimes that fhe alone muft bend ? 
Where are her hofls to conquer and defend — 
Mufl fhe alone with thefe new regions part, 
Thefe realms that lay the nearefl to her heart, 
But foar'd at once to independent power. 
Not funk, Hke Scotland, in the trying hour ? — 
See, flothful Spaniards golden empires keep. 
And rule vafl realms beyond the Atlantic deep ; 
Must zf^ alone furrender half (?«r reign. 
And they their empires and their worlds retain ? — 
Britannia rife — fend Johnstone to Peru, 
Seize thy bold thunders and the war renew, 
Conqueji or ruin — one mufl be thy doom. 
Strike — and fecure a triumph or a tomb ! 

But we, fad outcafts from our native reign. 



254 



Driven from thefe ftiores, a poor deluded train, 

In diftant wilds, conducted by defpair. 

Seek, vainly feek, a hiding place from care ! 

Even now yon' tribes, the foremoft of the band. 

Crowd to the (hips and cover all the ftrand ; 

Forc'd from their friends, their country, and their god, 

I fee the unhappy mifcreants leave the fod ! 

Matrons and men walk forrowing fide by fide, 

And virgin grief, and poverty, and pride ; 

All, all with aching hearts prepare to fail, 

And late repentance, that has no avail ! 

While yet I ftand on this forbidden ground 

I hear the death-bell of deftrudion found. 

And threatening hofts, with vengeance on their brow 

Cry " where are Britain's bafe adherents now ?" 

Thefe, hot for vengeance, by refentment led. 

Blame on our hearts the failings of the head ; 

To us no peace, no favours they extend. 

Their rage no bounds, their hatred knows no end ; 

In one firm league I fee them all combin'd. 

We, like the damn'd, can no forgivenefs find — 

As foon might Satan from perdition rife. 

And the loft angels gain their vanifh'd fkies, 

As malice ceafe in their dark fouls to burn, 

Or we, once fled, be fufFer'd to return. 

Curs'd be the union that was form'd with France, 
I fee their lillies^ and th^Jiars^ advance ! 
Did they not turn our triumphs to retreats. 
And prove our conquests nothing but defeats ? — 



A NEW YORK TORY's EPISTLE. 2f 

My heart mifgives me, as their chiefs draw near, 

I feel the Influence of all-potent fear: 

Henceforth muft I, abandon'd and diftreft, 

Knock at the door of pride, a beggar guest. 

And learn from years of mifery and pain 

Not to oppofe fair Freedom's caufe again ! — 

One truth Is clear from Nature, conftant ftill, 

Kings hold not worlds, or empires, at their will : — 

Nor rebels they, who n^iXAVQ freedom claim, 

Conquejl alone can ratify the name — 

But great the tafk, refiftance to controul 

When genuine virtue fires the ftubborn foul ; 

The warlike beaft, in Lybian deferts plac'd 

To reign the mafter of the fun-burnt wafte, 

Not tamely yields to wear a fervlle chain : 

Force may attempt it, and attempt in vain 

Nervous and hold^ by native valour led : 

His prowefsjirikes the proud invader dead^ 

By force nor fraud from Freedom^ s charms beguifd^ 

He reigns fe cure the monarch of the wild. 

TANTALUS. 
\_May, 1783.] 



RIVINGTON'S CONFESSIONS. 

ADDRESSED TO THE WHIGS OF NEW-YORK. 

I. 

T ONG life and low fpirits were never my choice, 

As long as I live I intend to rejoice ; 
When life is worn out, and no wine's to be had, 
'Tis time enough then to be ferious and fad. 

'Tis time enough then to refledl and repent 
When our liquor is gone, and our money is fpent, 
But I cannot endure what is praitis'd by fome 
This anticipating of mifchiefs to come ; 

A debt muft be paid, I am forry to fay, 
Alike, in their turns, by the grave and the gay. 
And due to a defpot that none can deceive 
Who grants us no refpite and figns no reprieve. 

Thrice happy is he that from care can retreat, 
And its plagues and vexations put under his feet ; 
Blow the ftorm as it may, he is always in trim. 
And the fun's in the zenith forever to him. 



RIVINGTON*S CONFESSIONS. 257 

Since the world then, In earneft, is nothing but care, 
(And the world will allow I have alfo niy fhare) 
Yet, tofs'd as I am in the ftormy expanfe, 
The beft way, I find, is to leave it to chance. 

Look round, if you pleafe, and furvey the wide ball 
And CHANCE, you will find, has dire6tion of all : 
'Twas owing to chance that I firft faw the light. 
And chance may deftroy me before it is night ! 

'Twas a chance, a mere chance, that your arms galn'd the day, 
'Twas a chance that the Britons fo foon went away, 
To chance by their leaders the nation ia caft 
And chance to perdition will fend them at laft. 

Now becaufe I remain when the puppies are gone 
You would willingly fee me hang'd, quarter'd, and drawn, 
Though I think I have logic fufficient to prove 
That the chance of my ftay — is a proof of my love. 

For deeds of deftru6tion fome hundreds are ripe, 
But the worft of my foes are your lads of the type : 
Becaufe they have nothing to put on their fhelves 
They are ftriving to make me as poor as themfelves. 

There's Loudon, and Kollock, thofe ftrong bulls of Bafhan, 
j Are ftriving to hook me away from my ftation, 
And Holt, all at once, is as wonderful great 
As if none but himfelf was to print for the State. 
17 



258 rivington's confessions. 

Ye all are convinc'd I'd a right to expe6l 
That a finner returning you would not reject — 
Quite Tick of the fcarlet and flaves of the throne, 
'Tis now at your option to make me your own. 

Suppofe I had gone with the Tories and rabble, 
To ftarve or be drown'd on the fhoals of cape Sable^ 
I had fufFer'd, 'tis true — but I'll have you to know. 
You nothing had gain'd by my trouble and woe. 

You fay that with grief and deje6lion of heart 

I pack'd up my awls, with a view to depart. 

That my fhelves were difmantled, my cellars unftor'd. 

My boxes afloat, and my hampers on board : 

And hence you infer (I am fure without reafon) 
That a right you poflefs to entangle my weazon — 
Yet your barns I ne'er burnt, nor your blood have I fpilt. 
And my terror alone was no proof of my guilt. 

The charge may be true — for I found it in vain 
To lean on a ftaff that was broken in twain. 
And ere I had gone at Port Rofeway to fix, 
I had chofe to fell drams on the fouth fide of Styx 

I confefs, that, with (hame and contrition oppreft, 
I fign'd an agreement to go with the reft. 
But ere they weigh'd anchor to fail their laft trip, 
I faw they were vermin, and gave them the flip : 



RIVINGTON S CONFESSIONS. 259 

Now, why you fhould call me the worft man alive, 
On the word of a convert, I cannot contrive. 
Though turn'd a plain honeft republican, ftill 
You own me no profelyte, do what I will. 

My paper Is alterM — good people, don't fret ; 

I call it no longer the Royal Gazette ; 

To me a great monarch has loft all his charms, 

I have pull'd down his Lion, and trampled his Arms. 

While fate was propitious, I thought they might ftand, 
(You know I was zealous for George's command) 
But fmce he difgrac'd it, and left us behind, 
If I thought him an angel — I've alter'd my mind. 

On the very fame day that his army went hence 
I ceas'd to tell lies for the fake of his pence ; 
And what was the reafon ?- — the true one is beft — 
I worfhip no funs when they hang to the weft : 

In this I refemble a Turk or a Moor, 
Bright Phoebus afcending, I proftrate adore ; 
And, therefore, excufe me for printing fome lays. 
An ode or a fonnet in Wafhington's praife. 

His prudence, and caution has fav'd your dominions. 
This chief of all chiefs, and the pride of Virginians ! 
And when he is gone — I pronounce it with pain — 
We fcarcely fhall meet with his equal again. 



26o rivington's confessions. 

The gods for that hero did trouble prepare, 

But gave him a mind that could feed upon care, 

They gave him a fpirit, ferene but fevere. 

Above all diforder, confufion, and fear ; 

In him it vv^as fortune w^here others would fail : 

He was born for the tempeft, and weather'd the gale."* 

Old Plato afTerted that life is a dream 
And man but a fhadow, a cloud, or a ftream ; 
By which It is plain he intended to fay 
That man, like a fhadow, muft vanifh away : 



If this be the faft, in relation to man. 
And if each one is ftriving to get what he can, 
I hope, while I live, you will all think it beft. 
To allow me to buftle along with the reft. 



I 



A view of my life, though fome parts might be folemn, 
Would make, on the whole, a ridiculous volume ; 
In the life that's hereafter (to fpeak with fubmiilion) 
I hope I fhall publifh a better edition : 

Even fwine you permit to fubfift in the ftreet ; — 
You pity a dog that lies down to be beat — 
Then forget what is paft, for the year's at a clofe — 
And men of my age have fome need of repofe. 

* This ftanza is added in the edition of 1809. 




rivington's confessions. 261 

II. 

BUT as to the Tories that yet may remain, 
They fcarcely need give you a moment of pain : 
What dare they attempt when their mafters are fled ; — 
When the foul is departed, who wars with the dead ? 

On the waves of the Styx had they rode quarantine, 
They could not have look'd more infernally lean 
Than the day, when repenting, difmay'd and diftreft. 
Like the doves to their windows, they ftuck to their neft. 

Poor fouls ! for the love of the king and his nation 
They have had their full quota of mortification ; 
Wherever they fought, or whatever they won 
The dream's at an end — the delufion is done. 

The Temple you rais'd was fo wonderful large 
Not one of them thought you could anfwer the charge, 
It feem'd a mere caftle conftrucSted of vapour. 
Surrounded with gibbets, and founded on paper. 

On the bafis of freedom you built it too ftrong ! 
And Carleton confefs'd, when you held it fo long. 
That if any thing human the fabric could fhatter. 
The Royal Gazette muft accomplifh the matter. 

An engine like that, in fuch hands as my own 
Had fhaken king Cudjoe"^ himfelf from his throne, 

* The negro king in Jamaica ; whom the Englifh declared Independent in 
»739- 



262 rivington's confessions. 

In another rebellion had ruin'd the Scot, 

While the Pope and Pretender had both gone to pot. 

If you flood my attacks, I have nothing to fay — 
I fought, like the Svvifs, for the fake of my pay ; 
But while I was proving your fabric unfound 
Our veflel mlfs' djiay^ and we all went aground. 

Thus ended in ruin what madnefs begun. 
And thus was our nation difgrac'd and undone, 
Renown'd as we were, and the lords of the deep. 
If our outfet was folly, our exit was Deep. 

A dominion like this, that fome millions had coft ! — 
The king might have wept when he faw it was loft ; — 
This jewel — whofe value I cannot defcribe ; 
This pearl — that was richer than all his Dutch tribe. 

When the war came upon us, you very well knew 
My income was fmall and my riches were few — 
If your money was fcarce, and your profpe6ts were bad. 
Why hinder me printing for people that had ? 

'TwouM have pleas'd you, no doubt, had I gone with a few 

fetts 
Of books, to exift in your cold Maflachufetts ; 
Or to wander at Newark^ like ill fated Hugh, 
Not a fhirt to my back, or a foal to my fhoe : 

Now, if we miftook (as we did, it is plain) 
Our error was owing to wicked Hugh Gaine, 



rivington's confessions. 263 

For he gave fuch accounts of your flarving and ftrife 
As prov'd that his pi6tures were drawn from the hfe. 

The part that I a6i:ed, by fome men of fenfe 
Was wrongfully held to be malice propenfe, 
When to all the world elfe it was perfe6tly plain, 
One principle rul'd me — a paflion for gain. 

You pretend I have fufFer'd no lofs in the caufe, 

And have, therefore, no right to partake of your laws : 

Some people love talking — I find to my coft, 
I too am a lofer— my PENSION is loft ! 

Nay, did not your printers repeatedly ftoop 

To defcant and reflect on my portable soup ? 

At me have your porcupines darted the quill, 

You have plunder'd my Office and publifh'd my Will, 

Refolv'd upon mifchief, you held it no crime 
To fteal my Refle^tons^ and print them in rhyme, 
When all the town knew (and a number confefs'd) 
That papers, hke thefe, were no caufe of arreft. 

You never confider'd my ftruggles and ftrife ; 
That my lot is to toil and to worry through life ; 
My windows you broke — not a pane did you fpare — 
And my houfe you have made a mere old man of war. 

And ftill you infift I've no right to complain ! — 
Indeed if I do, I'm afraid it's in vain — 



264 rivington's confessions. 

Yet am willing to hope you're too learnedly read 
To hang up a printer for being mifled. 



If this be your aim, I muft think of a night — 
In lefs than a month I muft bid you good night, 
And hurry away to that whelp-nM^n fhore 
Where Clinton and Carleton retreated before. 



From figns in the fky, and from tokens on land 
I'm inclin'd to fufpe^t my departure's at hand : 
Old Argo^' the fhip, — In a peep at her ftar, 
i foLind they were fcraping h^r bottom for tar : 

For many nights part, as the houfe can atteft, 
A boy with a feather-bed troubled my j elr : 
My (hop, the lad evening, feem'd all In a blaze. 
And a hen crow'd at midnight, my waiting man fays ; 

Even then, as I lay with ftrange whims In my head, 

A ghoft hove in fight, not a yard from my bed. 

It feem'd General Robertson, braiuly array'd. 

But I grafp'd at the fubftance, and found him a fliade ! 

He appear'd as of old, when head of the throng, 
And loaded with laurels, he waddled along — 
He feem'd at the foot of my bedftead to ftand 
And cry'd — "Jamie Rivington, reach me your hand , 

* A fouthern Conftellation confifting of 24 ftars. 



RIVINGTON S CONFESSIONS. 20^ 

" And Jamie, (fald he) I am forry to find 

••' Some demon advis'd you to loiter behind ; 

"The country is hoilile — you had better get off it, 

" Here's nothing but fquabbles, all plague, and no profit ! 

" Since the day that Sir William came here with his throng 
" He manag'd things fo, that they always went wrong ; 
''And tho' for his knighthood, he kept Meschianza, 
" I think he was nothing but mere Sancho Panza : 

" That famous conduftor of moon-light retreats, 
" Sir Harry, came next with his armies and fleets, 
" But, finding ''the Rebels were dying and dead^ 
" He grounded his arms and retreated — to bed. 

" Other luck we had once at the battle of Boyne ! 
" But here they have ruin'd Earl Charles and Burgoyne^ 
" Here brave Colonel Monckton was thrown on his back, 
" And here lies poor Andre ! the beft of the pack." 

So faying, he flitted away in a trice, 
Juft adding, ''he hop'd I would take his advice" — 
Which I furely fhall do, if you pufh me too hard — 
And fo I remain, with eternal regard, 

James Rivington, Printer, of late to the king, 

But now a republican, under your wing — 

Let him ftand where he is — don't pufh him down hill. 

And he'll turn a true Blue-Skin^ or juft what you will. 

\_December 31, 1 783.] 



OCCASIONED BY GENERAL WASHINGTON'S 

ARRIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA, ON HIS WAY TO HIS RESI- 
DENCE IN VIRGINIA. 

{December J 1 783.) 

'TpHE great, unequal conflift paft. 

The Briton banifli'd from our fhore. 

Peace, heaven-defcended, comes at laft. 
And hoftile nations rage no more ; 
From fields of death the vi^eary fwain 
Returning, feeks his native plain. 

In every vale flie fmiles ferene. 

Freedom's bright ftars more radiant rife. 
New charms fhe adds to every fcene. 
Her brighter fun illumes our fkies : 
Remoteft realms admiring ftand. 
And hail the Hero of our land : 

He comes ! — the Genius of thefe lands — 
Fame's thoufand tongues his worth confefs, 

Who conquer'd with his fufFering bands, 
And grew immortal by diftrefs : 



Washington's arrival in Philadelphia. 267 

Thus calms fucceed the ftormy blaft, 
And valour is repaid at laft. 

O Washington ! — thrice glorious name, 

What due rewards can man decree — 
Empires are far below thy aim, 

And fc^ptres have no charms for thee ; 
Virtue alone has your regard. 
And Ihe muft be your great reward. 

Encircled by extorted power, 

Monarchs muft envy your Retreat 
Who caft, in fome ill fated hour. 

Their country's freedom at their feet ; 
'Twas yours to a6t a nobler part. 
For injur'd Freedom had your heart. 

For ravag'd realms and conquer'd feas 
Rome gave the great imperial prize, 
And, fweird with pride, for feats like thefe. 
Transferred her heroes to the fkies : — 
A brighter fcene your deeds difplay. 
You gain thofe heights a different way. 

When FaSiion rear'd her briftly head. 
And join'd with tyrants to deftroy. 
Where'er you march'd the monfter fled, 
Timorous her arrows to employ : 

Hofts catch'd from you a bolder flame. 
And defpots trembled at your name. 



268 Washington's arrival in Philadelphia. 

Ere war's dread horrors ceas'd to reign, 

What leader could your place fupply ? — 
Chiefs crowded to the embattled plain, 
Prepar'd to conquer or to die — 
Heroes arofe — but none, like you, 
Could fave our lives and freedom too. 

In fwelling verfe let kings be read. 

And princes fhine in polifh'd profe ; 
Without fuch aid your triumphs fpread 
Where'er the convex ocean flows. 
To Indian worlds by feas embrac'd, 
And Tartar, tyrant of the wafte. 

Throughout the eaft you gain applaufe, 

And foon the Old World^ taught by you, 
Shall blufh to own her barbarous laws. 
Shall learn inftru6lion from the New : 
Monarchs fhall hear the humble plea. 
Nor urge too far the proud decree. 

Defpifing pomp and vain parade. 

At home you ftay, while France and Spain 
The fecret, ardent wifh convey'd. 

And hail'd you to their fhores in vain : 
In VernorCs groves you fhun the throne, 
Admir'd by kings, but feen by none. 

Your fame, thus fpread to diftant lands, 
May envy's fierceft blafts endure, 



Washington's arrival in Philadelphia. 269 

Like Egypt's pyramids it ftands, 
Built on a bafis more fecure ; 

Time's lateft age fhall own in you 
The patriot and the ftatefman too. 

Now hurrying from the bufy fcene, 

Where thy Potoivmack^s waters flow, 
May'ft thou enjoy thy rural reign, 
And every earthly bleffing know ; 

Thus HE,* who Rome's proud legions fway'd, 
Return'd, and fought his fylvan fliade. 

Not lefs in wifdom than in war 

Freedom fhall ftill employ your mind. 
Slavery muft vanifh, wide and far, 
'Till not a trace is left behind ; 

Your counfels not beftow'd in vain. 
Shall ftill prote6t this infant reign. 

So, when the bright, all-cheering fun 
From our contrafted view retires. 
Though folly deems his race is run. 
On other worlds he lights his fires : 

Cold climes beneath his influence glow, 
And frozen rivers learn to flow. 

O fay, thou great, exalted name ! 
What Mufe can boaft of equal lays, 

* Cincinnatus. 



270 Washington's arrival in Philadelphia. 

Thy worth difdains all vulgar fame, 
Tranfcends the nobleft poet's praife : 
Art foars, unequal to the flight, 
And genius fickens at the height. 

For States redeem'd — our weftern reign 

Reftor'd by thee to milder fway, 
Thy confcious glory fhall remain 

When this great globe is fwept away, 
And all is loft that pride admires, 
And all the pageant fcene expires. 



THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH. 

Occafioned by rejoicings in Philadelphia on the acknowledgment of the National 
Independence. • 

'J^OWARD the fkies 
What columns rife 
In Roman ftyle, profufely great ! 
What lamps afcend, 
What arches bend, 
And fwell with more than Roman ftate ! 
High o'er the central arch difplay'd, 
Old Janus fhuts his temple door, 
And fhackles war in darkeft {hade — 
Saturnian times in view once more. 

Pride of the human race, behold 

In Gallia's prince the virtues glow, 
Whofe condufb prov'd, whofe goodnefs told 

That kings can feel for human woe. 
Thrice happy France, in Louis bleft. 
Thy genius droops her head no more ; 

In the calm virtues of the mind 

Equal to him no Titus fhin'd — 
No Trajan — whom mankind adore. 



272 



THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH. 

Another fcene too foon difplays ! 

Griefs have their fhare, and claim their part, 
They monuments to ruin raife, 

And ftied keen anguifh o'er the heart : 
Thofe heroes that in battle fell 
Demand a fympathetic tear, 
Who fought, our tyrants to repell — 
Memory preferves their laurels here. 
In vernal fkies 
Thus tempefts rife, 
And clouds obfcure the brighteft fun — 
Few wreathes are gain'd 
With blood unftain'd — 
No honours without ruin won. 

The arms of France three lillies mark — 
In honour's dome with thefe enroll'd 

The plough, the fheaf, the gliding barque 
The riches of our State unfold. 

AUy'd in heaven, a fun and ftars 

Friendfhip and peace with France declare — 
The branch fucceeds the fpear of Mars, 

Commerce repairs the waftes of war ; 
In ties of concord ancient foes engage. 
Proving the day-fpring of a brighter age. 
Thefe States defended by the brave. 

Their military trophies, fee ! 
The virtue that of old did fave 

Shall ftill maintain them, great ?inu free i 



THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH. 



273 



Arts fhall pervade the weftern wild, 
And favage hearts become more mild. 

Of fcience proud, the fource of fway, 

Lo ! emblematic figures fhine ; 
The arts their kindred forms difplay, 

Manners to foften and refine : 
A ftately Tree to heav'n its fummit fends. 
And clufter'd fruit from thirteen boughs depends. 

With laurel crown'd 
A chief renown'd 
(His country fav'd) his faulchion fheathes ; 
Neglects his fpoils 
For rural toils. 
And crowns his plough with laurel wreaths : — 
While we this Roman chief furvey. 

What apt refemblance ftrikes the eye ! 
Thofe features to the foul convey 
A Washington, in fame as high, 
Whofe prudent, perfevering mind 
Patience with manly courage join'd. 
And when difgrace and death were near, 

Look'd through the dark diftreiling fhade, 
Struck hoftile Britons with unwonted fear, 

And blafted their beft hopes, and pride in ruin laid I 

Victorious Virtue ! aid me to purfue 
The tributary verfe, to triumphs due — 



274 



THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH. 

Behold the peafant leave his lowly fhed, 

Where tufted forefts round him grow ; — 
Though clouds the dark fky overfpread, 
War's dreadful art his arm eflays, 
He meets the hoftile cannon's blaze, 
And pours redoubled vengeance on the foe. 

Born to protect: and guard our native land, 
Viftorious Virtue ! ftill preferve us free ; 
Plenty — gay child of peace, thy horn expand. 

And, Concord, teach us to agree ! 
May every virtue that adorns the foul 

Be here advanc'd to heights unknown before ; 
Pacific ages in fucceflion roll 

'Till Nature blots the fcene. 
Chaos refumes her reign 
And heaven with pleafure views its works no more 
[Philadelphia^ May lO. 1784.] 



Ii 



ON THE DEATH OF A REPUBLICAN PATRIOT AND 
STATESMAN.* 

OOON to the grave defcends each honour'd name 
That rais'd their country to this blaze of fame : 
Sages, that plann'd, and chiefs that led the way 
To Freedom's temple, all too foon decay. 
Alike fubmit to one impartial doom. 
Their glories clofing in perpetual gloom. 
Like the bright fplendours of the evening, fade, 
While night advances, to complete the fhade. 

Reed, 'tis for thee we fhed the unpurchas'd tear. 
Bend o'er thy tomb, and plant our laurels there : 
Your acSls, your life, the nobleft pile tranfcend. 
And Virtue, patriot Virtue, mourns her friend, 
Gone to thofe realms, where worth may claim regard, 
And gone where virtue meets her beft reward. 

* General Jofeph Reed died in Philadelphia, March 5, 1785. Educated at 
the College of New Jerfey, he was bred to the law, pafled much of his youth 
and early manhood in England, returned home previous to the breaking out of the 
war for independence, and took part in the preliminary civil proceedings as a dele- 
gate to the old Continental Congrefs, and in other capacities. He was aide and 
fecretary to Wafhington, and fubfequently adjutant-general. Refigning this 
office, he continued to ferve in the army as a volunteer. He was a member of 
Congrefs in 1778. 



276 DEATH OF A REPUBLICAN PATRIOT. 

No fingle art engag'd his vigorous mind, 
In every fcene his active genius fhin'd : 
Nature in him, in honour to our age. 
At once compos'd the foldier and the fage — 
Firm to his purpofe, vigilant and bold, 
Detefting traitors, and defpifing gold, 
He fcorn'd all bribes from Britain's hoftile throne. 
For all his country's wrongs he held his own. 

Reed, reft in peace : for time's impartial page 
Shall raife the blufh on this ungrateful age : 
Long in thefe climes thy name {hall flourifh fair. 
The ftatefman's pattern and the poet's care ; 
Long in thefe climes thy memory fhall remain, 
And ftill new tributes from new ages gain, 
Fair to the eye that injur'd honour rife — 
Nor traitors triumph while the patriot dies. 



A RENEGADO EPISTLE TO THE INDEPENDENT 
AMERICANS. 

XICT'E Tories, who lately were frighten'd away, 

When you march'd into York all In battle array, 
Dear whIgs, In our exile have fomewhat to fay. 

From the clime of New Scotland we wifh you to know 
We ftUl are In being — mere fpeitres of woe. 
Our dignity high, but our fplrlts are low. 

Great people we are, and are call'd the king's friends — 

But on frlendfhlps like thefe what advantage attends ? 

We may ftay and be ftarv'd when we've anfwer'd his ends I 

The Indians themfelves, whom no treaties can bind. 
We have reafon to think are perverfely inclln'd — 
And where we have friends is not eafy to find. 

From the day we arrlv'd on this defolate fliore 
We ftlU have been wifhing to fee you once more. 
And your freedom enjoy, now the danger is o'er. 

Although we be-rebel'd you up hill and down. 
It was all for your good — and to honour a crown 
Whofe fplendors have fpoil'd better eyes than our iwn. 



278 A RENEGADO EPISTLE. 

That villains we are, is no more than our due, 
And fo may remain for a century through, 
Unlefs we return, and be tutor'd by you. 

Although with the dregs of the world we are clafs'd. 

We hope your refentment will foften at laft. 

Now your toils are repaid, and our triumphs are paft. 

When a matter is done, 'tis a folly to fret — 
But your market-day mornings we cannot forget, 
With your coaches to lend, and your horfes to let. 

Your dinners of beef, and your breakfafts of toaji ! 
But we have no longer fuch bleflings to boaft, 
No cattle to fteal, and no turkies to roaft. 

Such enjoyments as thefe, we muft tell you with pain, 
*Tis odds we {hall only be wifhing in vain 
Unlefs we return and be brothers again. 

We burnt up your mills and your meetings, 'tis true. 
And many bold fellows we crippled and flew — 
(Aye ! we were the boys that had fomething to do !) 

Old HuDDY we hung on the Neverfmk fhore — 
But, Sirs, had we hung up a thoufand men more. 
They had all been aveng'd in the torments we bore, 

When AsGiLL to Jerfey you foolifhly fetch'd. 

And each of us fear'd that his neck would be ftretch'd, 

When you were be-rebel'd, and we were be-wretch'd. 



A RENEGADO EPISTLE. 279 

In the book of deftrudion it feems to be written 
The Tories muft ftill be dependent on Britain — 
The worft of dependence that ever was hit on. 

Now their work is concluded — that pitiful job — ' 
They fend over convi6ls to ftrengthen our mob — 
And fo we do nothing but fnivel and fob 

The worft of all countries has fall'n to our fhare, 
Where winter and famine provoke our defpair, 
And fogs are forever obfcuring the air. 

Although there be nothing but fea dogs to feed on, 
Our friend Jemmy Rivington made it an Eden — 
But, alas ! he had nothing but lies to proceed on. 

Deceiv'd we were all by his damnable fchemes — 
When he colour'd it over with gardens and ftreams, 
And grottoes and groves, and the reft of his dreams. 

Our heads were fo turn'd by that conjurer's fpell, 
We fwallow'd the lies he was order'd to tell — 
But his "happy retreats" were the vifions of hell. 

We feel fo enrag'd we could rip up his weazon, 

When we think of the foil he defcrib'd with its trees on, 

And the plenty that reign'd, and the charms of each feafon. 

Like a parfon that tells of the joys of the bleft 
To a man to be hang'd — he himfelf thought it beft 
To remain where he was, in his haven of reft. 



28o 



A RENEGADO EPISTLE. 



Since he help'd us away by the means of his types, 
His precepts fhould only have Hghted our pipes, 
His example was rather to honour your ftripes. 

Now, if we return, as we're bone of your bone. 

We'll renounce all allegiance to George and his throne 

And be the beft fubjecfts that ever were known. 

In a fhip, you have feen (where the duty is hard) 
The cook and the fcullion may claim fome regard, 
Tho' it takes a good fellow to brace the main yard. 

Howe'er you defpife us, becaufe you are free. 
The world's at a lofs for fuch people as we. 
Who can pillage on land, and can plunder at fea. 

So long for our rations they keep us in waiting — 
The lords and the commons, perhaps, are debating 
If Tories can Hve without drinking or eating. 

So we think it is better to fee you by far — 
And have hinted our meaning to governor Parr — ^ 
The worft that can happen '\^— feathers and tar. 
\Nova Scotia^ Feb. 1784.] 



* Then Governor of Nova Scotia. 



ON THE LEGISLATURE OF GREAT BRITAIN PRO- 
" HIBITING THE SALE OF 

DOCT. DAVID Ramsay's " history of the revolution 

OF SOUTH-CAROLINA," IN LONDON. "* 

QOME bold bully Dawfon^ expert In abufing, 

Having pafs'd all his life in the pra6lice of bruifing, 
At laft, when he thinks to reform and repent, 
And wifhes his days had been foberly fpent. 
Though a courfe of contrition in earneft begins. 
He fcarcely can bear to be told of his fins. 

So, the Britifti, worn out with their wars in the weft, 
(Where burning and murder their prowefs confeft,) 
When at laft they agreed 'twas in vain to contend, 
(For the days of their thieving were come to an end) 
They got their h'ljiorians to fcribble and flatter. 
And fooliftily thought they could hufh up the matter. 

But Ramsay arofe, and with truth on his fide. 
Has told to the world what they labour'd to hide. 
With his pen of diire6lion, and pointed with fteel. 
If they ne'er before felt — he has taught them to feel, 

* David Ramfay's " Hiftory of the Revolution in South Carolina," was pub- 
liQied at Trenton, New Jerfey, in 1 785. 



282 SALE OF Ramsay's history prohibited. 

Themfelves and their p.ojedls has truly defin'd, 
And drag'd them to blufh at the bar of mankind. 

As the author, his friends, and the world might exped, 
They find that the work has a damning efFeft j 
In reply to his fa6ls they abufe him and rail, 
And, prompted by malice, prohibit the fale. 

But, we truft, their chaftifement is only begun — 
Thirteen are the flates — and he writes but of one ; 
Ere the twelve that are filent their ftory have told. 
The king will run mad — and the Book will be sold. 



THE 

R A M 1 D 



OF THE 



FIFTEEN AMERICAN STATES. 
^ ^ ^ 

y- vV ^ ^V 

^ 'A- .^ -^ T^ 

BARBARA Pyramidum fileat miracula Memphis j* 

Heu, male fervili marmora ftrufta manu! 
Libera jam, ruptis, Atlantias ora, catenis, 

Jaftat opus Phario marmore nobilius : 
Namque Columbiadae, fafti monumenta parantes, 

Vulgarem fpernunt fumerc materiam ; 
Magnanimi coelum fcandunt, perituraque faxa 

Quod vincat, celfa de Jovis arce petunt. 
Audax inde coiiors ftellis E Pluribus Unum 

Ardua Pyramidos tollit ad aftra caput. 
Ergo, Tempus edax, quamvis durilTima faevo 

Saxa domas morfu, nil ibi juris habes : 
Dumque polo folitis cognata nitoribus ardent 

Sidera fulgebit Pyramis ilia fuis! 

ITRANSLAT 10 N.^ 

'O more let barbarous Memphis boaft 
Huge ftru6tures rear'd by fervile hands — 
A nation on the Atlantic coaft 

Fetter'd no more in foreign bands, 

* The Latin verfes were written by Mr. John Carey, formerly of Philadelphia 



N' 



284 THE PYRAMID OF THE STATES. 

A nobler Pyramid difplays 

Than Egypt's marble e'er could raife. 

Columbia's fons, to extend the fame 
Of their bold deeds to future years 

No marble from the quarry claim, 
But, foaring to the ftarry fpheres, 

Materials feek in Jove's blue fky 

To endure when brafs and marble die ! 

Arriv'd among the (hining hoft, 
Fearlefs, the proud invaders fpoil 

From countlefs gems, in aether loft. 

These stars, to crown their mighty toil : 

To heaven a pyramid they rear 

And point the fummit with a ftar. 

Old wafteful Time ! though ftill you gain 
Dominion o'er the brazen tower. 

On THIS your teeth fhall gnaw in vain. 
Finding its ftrength beyond their power : 

While kindred ftars in aether glow. 

This Pyramid will shine below i 



INDEX OF NAMES 



Adams, Mrs. Abigail, 20. 

Adams, John, 20. 

Adams, Samuel, 26. 

Affleck, Commodore, 136. 

Alexander the Great, 45. 

Ali, Hyder, 148, 149, 208. 

AUibone, S. Auftin, xii. 

Amherft, General, 25, 26. 

Amos, 15. 

Andre, Major, 153, 265. 

Arnold, General, x, 101, 117, 124, 

201. 
Afgill, Captain, 218, 278. 
Atabilipa, 2. 
Auchmuty, Rev. S., 233, 234. 

Bailey, Francis, xii, xvi, xvii. 
Barclay, Rev. Dr., 233. 
Barlow, Joel, 52. 
Barney, Jofliua, 171, 174. 
Barry, Commodore, 57. 
Biddle, Captain, 60, 61—3. 
Bell, Robert, 43. 
Bernard, Sir Francis, 17. 
Booth, Mary, 86. 
Brackenridge, H. H., x., xii 
Braddock, General, 25. 
Brevoort, Henry, xxxvi. 
Brownjohn, Dr., 225. 
Brunfwick, Duke of, xxxvi. 



Burgoyne, General, 26, 34, 47, 50, 52, 

66, 127, 168, 265. 
Burke, Edmund, 73. 
Burr, Aaron, x. 
Bute, Lord, 246. 

Caefar, 65. 
Cain, 45. 
Camillus, li. 
Campbell, Thomas, xxxv. 
:5i, Carey, John, 283. 

Carey, Matthew, xix. 

Carleton, Sir Guy, 190, 208, 212, 261, 

264. 
Catharine II., 76. 
Cato, 15. 
Charles I., 68. 
Charles V., 75. 
Cincinnatus, 269. 
Clinton, De Witt, xix. 
Clinton, Sir Henry, 26, 71, 118, 124, 

125, 128, 136, 138, 152, 153, 166, 

186, 192, 208, 215, 218, 219, 264 

-265. 
Clive, Lord, 47. 

Colden, Lieutenant-Governor, 227. 
Collier, Sir George, 82. 
Columbus, 2. 
Cooper, James Fenimore, 56, 57, 60, 

61, 105, 119. 



286 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Cooper, Myles, 234. 

Cornwallis, General, 117, I20, lai, 

124, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 153, 

168, 188, 215, 265. 
Cortez, 2, 9. 
Cudjoe, King, 261. 

Darwin, Erafmus, xxxvil. 

Dawfon, 281. 

De GrafTc, Admiral, 149, 181. 

D'Eftaing, 72. 

Dibdin, Thomas, xxvii. 

Digby, Admiral, 125, 136, 137, 208. 

Domitian, 45. 

Dunmore, Lord, 23, 24, 122, 123, 139. 

Eden, Robert, 140. 

Fabricius, li. 
Fontaine, John, viii, 
Forman, David, xxxii. 
Forman, Denife, xxxii. 
Forman, Jonathan, xxxii. 
Forman, Samuel, xxxii. 
Fox, Charles James, 69, 70, 72, 73. 
Francis, John ¥/., xxviii, xxx. 
Franklin, xix, 14, 56. 
Franklin, Governor, 219. 
Franklin, William, 140. 
Fraunces, Samuel, 229, 230. 
Freneau, Andrew, viii, ix. 
Freneau, Mrs. Eleanor, xxxii. 
Freneau, Peter, ix, xix, xxx. 
Freneau, Philip, vii-xxxviii, 142. 
Freneau, Philip L., xxxi. 
Freneau, Pierre, viii, ix. 
Frothingham, Richard, 30. 

Gage. General, 20, ai, 25, 26, 32, 33, 
3S> 36, 38, 39> 40, 55, 66, 127, 
190, 228, 234. 



Gaine, Hugh, xi, xxiv, xxxiv, 1 54, 

224-240, 262. 
Galvez, Don, 149. 
Gates, General, 48, 131. 
George II., 42. 
George III., 26, 27, 29, 30, 34, 39, 

45, 46, 65, 66, 69, 93, III, 113, 

136, 137, 144, 147, 195, 206, 207, 

239, 246, 252, 259, 280. 
George IV., 75, 252. 
Genet, xxi. 

Germaine, Lord, 12a, 123. 
Goodrich, Captain, 55. 
Graves, Admiral, 23, 26, 33, 125. 
Greene, General, I34, I35> *S3, ^44- 
Grey, xxix. 

Halleck, Fitz Greene, 34. 

Hamilton, Alexander, xxi, 229, 241. 

Hancock, John, 26. 

Hayne, Colonel, 243. 

Herod, 45. 

Homer, 11. 

Hood, Sir Samuel, 137. 

Hopkinfon, Francis, xix, 14a. 

Horace, xxii, xxxiv, 5, 202. 

Hofack, Dr., xxx. 

Howe, General, 26, 35, 71, 114, 127, 

190, 215, 219, 232, 237, 265. 
Huddy, Captain, 199, 218, 278. 
Hull, Commodore, xxvi. 
Hutchinfon, Governor, 25. 

Irving, Wafhington, xi, 25, 52, 219. 
Ifaiah, 15. 

James II., 68. 
Jarvis, John Wefley, xxx. 
JefFeries, Judge, 33. 
Jefferfon, Thomas, xx, xxi. 
Jeffrey, Francis, xxix. 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



287 



Jeremiah, 15. 
Johnftone, Admiral, 253. 
Johnftone, Commodore, 74, 147. 
Jones, Paul, 56, 102, 105-9. 

Kerr, Charles, 181. 
Knap, John Coghill, 154, 237. 
Knyphaufen, Baron, 100, 152. 
KoUock, 257. 

Lafayette, 132. 

Landais, Captain, 56, 57. 

Laurens, Colonel, 57, 241, 242. 

Laurens, Henry, 241. 

Leadbeater, Mrs., xxxi. 

Lee, General Charles, 29, 34. 

Lippencott, Captain, 218. 

Livingfton, Edward, xix. 

Longworth, David, xxvi. 

Loudon, 257. 

Louis XIV., vii. 

Louis XVL, 39, 192, 207, 271. 

Lucretius, xxv. 

Ludlow, Captain, 218. 

Macdonough, Commodore, xxvi. 
Mackenzie, Slidell, 105. 
Madifon, x, xxix. 
Magraw, Dr., 225. 
Manly, Captain, 82. 
Mansfield, Lord, 74. 
Marfhall, John, 134. 
Martin, Jofeph, 140. 
Martin, Theodore, 20a. 
Matthews, David, 153, 237. 
Maury, Ann, viii. 
McCrea, Jane, 52. 
Mercer, General, 5 1. 
Milton, xxxiv. 
Monckton, Colonel, 265. 
Monk, General, 170. 



Montague, Captain, 23, 24. 
Montezuma, 10. 
Montrefor, Captain, 234. 
Moore, Thomas, xxxvii. 
Moultrie, General, 241. 
Mofes,'232. 

Nebuchadnezzar, iii. 
Nelfon, Lord, 60. 
Nero, 45, 46, loi, 130. 
Nimrod, 45. 

Nicholfon, Captain, 118, 119. 
North, Lord, 24, 26, 27, 30, 35, 69, 
72, 73. 74, 246. 

Ogden, Colonel, 137. 
Orpheus, 13. 
Ovid, xxv. 

Parke, John, xix. 

Parker, 226. 

Parr, Governor, 280. 

Parfons, General, 187. 

Peale, Rembrandt, xxx. 

Pearfon, Captain, 105, 108, I09. 

Penn, William, 7. 

Percy, Lord, 34, 36, 3^- 

Phipps, Captain, 60. 

Pintard, John, xix, xxx. 

Pitt, William, 74. 

Pizarro, 9. 

Pope, Alexander, xxxvii. 

Porter, Commodore, xxvi. 

Provooft, Bifhop, ix. 

Putnam, General, 38. 

Ramfay, David, 281. 

Rawdon, Lord, 125. 

Reed, General, 275. 

Rittenhoufe, David, xix. 

Rivington, James, xxiv, xxxiv, 140, 



288 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



142, 144, 146, 150, 182, 190, 210, 
215-223, 225, 236, 256-265, 279. 

Robertlon, General, 136, 152, 153, 
197, 218, 222, 223, 264. 

Robin, Abbe, xvii. 

Rochambeau, xvii, 121. 

Rodney, Admiral, 136, 181. 

Rogers, Captain, 174, 177. 

Sabine, Lorenzo, 234, 237. 

Sackville, 73, 

Sandwich, Lord, 73. 

Sappho, XXXV. 

Scipio, 15. 

Scott, Sir Walter, xxxv, xxxvi. 

Sears, Ifaac, 14a, 229, 230, 234, 

Seneca, xi. 

Seymour, Governor, xxxii. 

Shelburne, Lord, 216. 

Skinner, Cortlandt, 237, 250. 

Smith, Colonel, 34. 

Smollett, 21. 

Solon, 15. 

Sparks, Jared, 219. 

Spring, Gardiner, x. 

Spring, Samuel, x. 

Sproat, David, 90. 

Stuart, Lieutenant-Colonel, 134. 

Stuart, Gilbert, xxxi. 

Suffrein, 147. 

627 



Theodore, King of Corfica, 220. 

Thomas, Ifaiah, 224. 

Titus, 271. 

Trajan, 271. 

Trumbull, John, xxxi, 34, 142, 234. 

Tryon, William, 23, 24, 100, 140, 187. 

Vandeput, Captain, 229. 
Vafa, Guftavus, 116 
Vaughan, 100. 
Vergennes, Count de, 219. 
Verplanck, G. C, xxvi. 
Vincent, Captain, 61. 
Virgil, 202. 

Wallace, Sir James, 23, 35. 

Walpole, Horace, 220. 

Waihington, xv, xxi, 9, 20, 26, 29, 51, 
114, 120, 121, 132, 149, 153, 218, 
219, 231, 241, 259, 266-270, 275. 

Weyman, 226. 

White, Philip, 218. 

Whitehead, Paul, 248. 

Willett, Marinus, xix, 

William Henry, Prince, 125, 136-8, 
207-8. 

Wither fpoon. Dr., 142. 

Witherfpoon, John, x. 

Wolfe, 8. 



THE END, 



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